By Stephen Silver
Several community commemorations of the Oct. 7 attacks, including one near the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, took place on or near the actual date. But on Oct. 27, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia hosted its own, timed instead to the day after the 24th of Tishrei on the Hebrew calendar. That date was chosen by Israel as its national day of remembrance of the tragedy.
The event took place at Har Zion Temple at Penn Valley.
“It’s been one year since the tragic day, October 7, when our world was changed forever,” Michael P. Markman, chairman of the Federation’s board, said in his opening remarks.
“One year since over 1,200 innocent people — mothers, fathers, children and grandparents, babies, young and elderly — were masssacred in their homes and at the Nova music festival. One year since over 240 innocent lives were stolen as hostages and taken to Gaza. One year of Israel being at war, fighting desperately to protect her citizens and defend her very existence.”
“We gather together as a community, to mourn those we lost on the day and throughout this devastating war in Gaza, and now in Lebanon, to remember the hostages who remain in captivity, as we cry out, ‘Bring them home, send them home now,’ and to draw strength from one another, for when you are part of the people of Israel, part of the Jewish community, whether here in Greater Philadelphia or anywhere around the world, you are never alone, and we must, we must come together.”
Attendees heard from leaders of the Federation, hostage families and representatives of the IDF. Survivors of the massacre shared videotaped messages, as did Gov. Josh Shapiro.
“A year ago, we witnessed a devastating and horrific attack on Israel, by the terrorist organization Hamas,” the governor said in his message. “Twelve-hundred innocent people were killed, over 250 were taken hostage and about a hundred are still being held hostage today, including American citizens … It’s important for all of us to remember the stories of those killed that day, and listen to the survivors.”
“As we reflect on this solemn occasion, we honor the lives taken, the courage of those still held captive and the resilience of a nation that continues to stand strong in the face of unimaginable adversity,” George Danneman, the Federation’s campaign co-chair, said in his remarks.
While the synagogue event was not structured as a service, Kaddish was recited, while a candle of hope was lit for the hostages.
Michael Balaban, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, was not able to attend the event because he was in Israel leading a group of firefighters putting out fires in the north of the country.
Also featured at the Har Zion commemoration was a traveling art exhibit, from Israeli architect and reservist Iftach Mashal, called “From Reality to Memory,” which represents the work of Combat Rescue Unit 669 and the operations they conducted on Oct. 7 and after.
“I truly wanted to be here with you today, but two weeks ago, we were deployed again,” Mashal said, in a letter from him read by a member of his unit.
“I thought of the little girl evacuated from her burning home, the hostages and my friends who fell in the war,” the letter said.
Another speaker was Eldar Maider, an Israeli officer, who was there to “share some of my experiences, as a soldier on the ground, coming from the heat of battle.”
“I came here because for me, for my brothers in arms, and the people of Israel, the front of advocacy is another front we are battling, and is as important as the rest of the six fronts Israel is physically fighting currently.” He added that he “would have liked to come here under different circumstances.”
There were also several musical interludes, including children from the Perelman Jewish Day School performing Hatikvah. As noted by Markman, the day also marked the sixth anniversary of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.
According to Rebeca Berger, a spokesperson for the Federation, between 900 and 1,000 people were expected to attend the commemoration. The event also had more than 60 sponsors.
“The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s event to honor those brutally murdered on October 7 last year brought together lay leaders and community members to remember those we have lost and to pray for the safe return of the hostages that remain in Gaza,” Markman said in an email the morning after the event. “The Jewish Federation staff and the speakers created an atmosphere that was both spiritual and supportive at Har Zion Temple that made us all feel as though we are not alone and that we can rely on our community here and abroad.”
Stephen Silver is a Broomall-based freelance writer.