Members of the Wittenberg and Springfield communities gathered for the Witt Series-sponsored 25th-annual Fred R. Leventhal Family Endowed Lecture featuring American Congress for Truth founder Brigitte Gabriel, Oct. 10.

Gabriel, a native of Lebanon who was raised a Christian Arab, discussed “Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terrorism Warns America,” based on her memoir of the same title. Before moving to Israel at the age of 20, Gabriel was subjected to many hardships as a survivor of the Lebanese Civil War. During the war, she was buried in the rubble of her destroyed house after it was hit by rockets fired by Muslim fighters.

“Terrorism is threatening our stability,” Gabriel said. “I speak as a patriotic American and not as a Republican or Democrat because this is an American issue.”