Commemorating October 7
Jewish communities and allies around the world will begin marking one year since October 7 with a number of moving events.
Jewish communities across Australia will come together on October 7 to commemorate one year since the Hamas-led massacre on Israel’s southern communities.
Almost 4000 community members have booked for the Zionist Council of NSW (ZCNSW) and Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) commemoration, United Together for October 7, with more still expected.
David Ossip, president of JBD said it’s a poignant opportunity to pay tribute. “We will pause to remember all who were murdered, pray for the safe return of those still being held hostage and pay tribute to all whose lives were forever changed on that day of infamy.”
Yossi Eshed, CEO of ZCNSW said singing Hatikvah will be an unforgettable moment.
“The commemoration will remind us all how proud we are today as Jews and Zionists. This special and very meaningful gathering with thousands of community members and our supporters outside the community will deliver a strong message of zikaron (remembrance), gvurah (heroism) and tikvah (hope).”
On Sunday October 6, Orah Sydney and ZCNSW will be hosting an intimate gathering of women to hear from Shani Teshuva, a mother of two who survived the attack on her home in Kibbutz Zikim.
That evening, Shir will present Songs of Hope – to unite, inspire and uplift the community, featuring several of Sydney’s finest Jewish musicians.
Sydney will host the first official commemoration of the October 7 massacre with a sunrise prayer service to honour the victims, show solidarity to the survivors and pray for the return of the hostages. Organised by StandWithUs and ZCNSW, the event will begin at 6.29am – the time the music stopped at the Nova Music Festival – and will feature prayers, speakers and music.
Also on October 7, JEMS has invited families to join their Mitzvah Day, where families can decorate pillows for displaced children in Israel and decorate lolly cards for Israeli soldiers.
In Melbourne, an initiative launched by Zionism Victoria and Habayit, and supported by the Zionist Federation of Australia and UIA, Illuminate October will provide an opportunity to remember and honour the lives lost on and since October 7, and those taken hostage.
Official commemorations will begin with a lantern parade in memory of the victims – a Walk of Light. The initiative has been picked up by other communities in Australia and around the world, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum among the adopters.
According to Zeddy Lawrence, executive director of Zionism Victoria, the idea is to give community members a tangible way to remember and honour.
“For most of us – as a community and as individuals – October 7 impacted us like nothing before,” Lawrence wrote in the September 30 edition of The AJN, continuing to say the diverse demographic that has so far taken part in Illuminate October shows the unwavering solidarity with Israel.
“Young, old, religious, secular, straight, gay, armchair Zionist, right-wing firebrand and everything in between, if there’s one glimmer of light in the darkness, it’s been that spark of Jewish identity – so different in all of us and yet so powerful at times like this – that binds us all together.”
The communal event will also feature a series of artistic installations, light projections and songs honouring those lost. It will include performances by school and shule choirs, notable names from the music industry, and personal reflections from members of the community.
Earlier in the day, Jewish Care and AIJAC will be hosting a commemorative event at the Schwartz Family Synagogue in Windsor. The event will feature keynote speaker the Hon. Josh Frydenberg and music from Chazan Brett Kaye.
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