PALO ALTO – Jewish institutions throughout the Bay Area on Monday marked the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel with commemorative services and a “Day of Yellow.”
The day, according to the local Jewish community, presented an opportunity for people of all beliefs to gather together and remember the lives that were lost during the attacks, as well as those who were taken hostage and have yet to be released.
In Palo Alto, the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center hosted “An Evening of Remembrance and Hope.” Many attendees stopped on their way into the event to light candles and view an exhibit by photojournalist Zia Koren memorializing the attacks.
One man was dressed in a shirt emblazoned with the message, “bring them home now,” while others wore yellow.
“I wish I was in Israel right now with my family and loved ones,” said Daphna Bhajayo, who attended the event and is from Israel. Her cousin’s son was abducted and declared “dead kidnapped” after he went to defend his kibbutz, or Israeli community.
“There is not one family in Israel that did not suffer after Oct. 7 from at least one family member being touched by these horrible, horrific events,” she said.
About 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’ surprise cross-border attack and another 250 were taken hostage, according to the Associated Press. Many of the 100 or so people who remain in captivity are feared dead.
Israel in turn waged a war against Hamas in Gaza, where intense fighting has killed more than 41,000 people and displaced around 1.9 million, the AP reported.
The conflict has spread in the region. Israel is now fighting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, facing escalating threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels and contending with a mounting conflict with Iran, which backs Hezbollah and Houthis, according to the AP.
Closer to home, Israel’s response to the conflict has sparked protests on college campuses, including Stanford University and UC Berkeley, although some of that activity appears to have subsided.
Between 2,500 and 3,000 people attended the event at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center.
“One year ago, our lives changed forever,” CEO and President Zach Bodner said during the event. “One year ago on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel experienced the single most devastating terrorist attack in its history, and what followed was an unprecedented assault on world Jewry.”
Several rabbis led the attendees in prayers. A song was also sung for those who remain in captivity.
Eytan Berman, one of two Israel Defense Forces soldiers who spoke at the event, said he learned many lessons on Oct. 7.
“One of those lessons I would like to share with you all: No matter how hard we get hit, we will get up stronger than before,” Berman said. “I implore you, hold your head high, walk with pride and never hide your identity, especially at these times.”
Another speaker, Uriel Bohbot, shared that his brother was kidnapped while working at the Nova Music Festival. He found out about the abduction by seeing his sibling in a video posted by Hamas.
“I cannot describe the feelings I have felt since that moment,” said Bohbot, whose words were translated into English and projected onto a screen for the crowd to see. “That is the start of a nightmare that my family (has) been suffering ever since.”
In an interview after the event, Bodner said “An Evening of Remembrance and Hope” offered attendees an opportunity to mourn, pray and think about the future together.
It’s an opportunity for us to be hopeful, to share in resilience,” he said, “and to think about bringing home the hostages, ending this war (and) bringing about peace.”.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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