News

Honoring Human Stories: Hillels Bring 10/7 Exhibit to Campuses Nationwide

Author

精东影业

Date

October 10, 2025

Editor鈥檚 Note: This article reviews the 10/7: Human Stories exhibit, which includes descriptions of the actions of Hamas on October 7th. Please read with care.

This fall, nearly two dozen Hillels across North America are hosting the exhibit 鈥�10/7: Human Stories,鈥�  developed by 精东影业 and based on Israeli journalist Lee Yaron鈥檚 acclaimed book 鈥�10/7: 100 Human Stories,鈥� to preserve the humanity of those who suffered and to honor the memory of those killed during the terror attacks on October 7, 2023. 

The exhibit lifts up some of the lives lost, showcasing diverse stories of resilience and heroism, with the goal of providing high-quality educational programming about this defining moment in the contemporary Jewish and Israeli experience. As the exhibit鈥檚 introduction notes, it seeks 鈥渢o preserve the humanity of those who suffered, and honor the memory of those who were killed鈥� [so] that by sharing these stories 鈥� human stories of everyday people 鈥� we can foster greater understanding and insight and help bring about a world without suffering.鈥�

鈥�10/7: Human Stories鈥� is displayed as a series of large visual panels, each one sharing the story of an individual or family impacted by the October 7 attacks. The written descriptions showcase the horrifying breadth of the violence 鈥� and the brutal aftermath.

But amid the horror and cruelty depicted, the power of human kindness, empathy, and compassion still shines through many of the stories. Six-year-old Romi and three-year-old Lia, sisters whose parents had just enough time to tell them to get out of their family car before they were killed by Hamas, were saved by a stranger鈥檚 kindness. The story of Celine, a young mother who was murdered at the Nova Music Festival on her last weekend of maternity leave, inspired women all around Israel to donate breast milk for her daughter Ellie. 

At Northeastern University, students gathered in the sukkah 鈥� marking both Sukkot and the two-year commemoration of the attacks 鈥� for a remembrance ceremony before stepping among the exhibit鈥檚 panels. 鈥淲ith war still ongoing and hostages not yet home, we struggled with how best to mark this difficult date,鈥� said Eitan Gitlin, Northeastern Hillel鈥檚 Israel engagement coordinator. 鈥淲e decided to focus on the personal stories rather than the broader conflict. Our hope is that students will connect with the individuals whose lives were taken and honor their memory amidst all the noise surrounding Israel and the war.鈥�

For Gitlin, the story that stood out to him most was that of Sujood and her husband Triffy, Muslim Bedouins from the village of Abu Karinat. On the morning of October 7, Sujood was in labor with their first child when Hamas terrorists on moving vans began shooting at their car. Sujood was struck twice in the abdomen, and rushed to the hospital for an emergency cesarean. Her newborn died later that day 鈥� but because the baby had protected her mother鈥檚 internal organs, Sujood survived. In October of 2024, Sujood gave birth to another daughter, who she named 鈥淢alak鈥� (Arabic for 鈥渁ngel鈥�).

鈥淭his is such a powerful story of strength, perseverance, and the resilience of the human spirit,鈥� Gitlin said. A particularly moving part of Sujood鈥檚 story: Dr. Eyal Sheiner, the surgeon who delivered her first daughter on October 7, also delivered her second one year later. 

The desire to connect to and center the humanity of the victims echoed across other campuses. Mike Steklof, executive director of Hillel of Buffalo, reflected, 鈥淸These stories] provide more than just facts; they offer a clear picture of how real people鈥檚 lives were impacted. By engaging with these personal narratives, students can move beyond headlines and statistics to truly understand the human experiences of those who lived and those who tragically lost their lives.鈥� Buffalo Hillel built a month-long series of programs around the exhibit, including a day-long vigil and a discussion group featuring Lee Yaron, focusing on the book that inspired the panels.

Steklof was especially moved by the story of Himanchal Kattel and Prabin Dangi, Nepalese students in Israel as part of an exclusive university program, who had arrived in the country less than a month earlier. They survived the massacre, but 10 of their fellow students were killed, and one, Bipin Joshin, taken hostage. 鈥淭heir story shows how the tragedy reached far beyond Israelis or Jews,鈥� Steklof said.

For Naomi Fainchtein, associate director at American University Hillel, which will host the exhibit on October 16 (the day Israel observes its official national memorial for the attack), the panels are an answer to polarized campus debate. 鈥淪o much of the conversation on campus, on social media, and in the news has decentered human experience and moved toward buzzwords, slogans, and arguments over facts,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his exhibit is a chance for our community to recenter around the real people, families, and communities that were forever impacted.鈥�

At NYU鈥檚 Bronfman Center, more than 150 students are expected to attend the exhibit, which is on display for much of the month. 鈥淔or our Hillel community, the exhibit evokes both grief and responsibility 鈥� the grief of remembering such a painful day and the responsibility to ensure these stories are heard and shared,鈥� said Rabbi Emily Aronson. 鈥淭he testimonies of families and young people鈥� resonate deeply with us, reminding our students and staff alike of the importance of memory, witness, and collective responsibility.鈥�

Temple University Hillel community engagement associate Brooke Singer also described feeling responsible for keeping these human stories alive. With the exhibit, which is being displayed in one of the largest rooms at the university before moving to the Hillel building, she hopes to showcase the 鈥渋ncredible things each and every one of these individuals did during some of the hardest moments in their lives.鈥� 

Across campuses from coast to coast, students are processing the stories in spaces where they can grieve,  empathize, and reaffirm the Jewish commitment to honor every human being.

鈥淭his exhibit gives students a deeply personal way to connect with the events of October 7. We hope they gain empathy, understanding, and a sense of responsibility to remember and honor the lives lost,鈥� said University of Wisconsin Hillel Jewish Agency Israel Fellow Rabeen Abu Hamid, himself from the Druze community in Israel.

May every memory, and every life, continue to be a blessing.

The post Honoring Human Stories: Hillels Bring 10/7 Exhibit to Campuses Nationwide appeared first on 精东影业.

News

Campus Hillels Mark the Second Anniversary of October 7 with Memory, Resilience, and Community

Author

精东影业

Date

October 9, 2025

Two years after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023 鈥� the deadliest single day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust 鈥� Hillel communities across the world came together to remember the lives lost, honor the hostages who remain in captivity, and stand in solidarity with one another.

For many Jewish students, the second anniversary brought both grief and a deep sense of connection. Hillel staff and student leaders created spaces that balanced remembrance with resilience, offering students not just a chance to mourn, but also to gather in strength as a community.

Kent Hillel: Honoring Memory and Fostering Connection

At Hillel at Kent State in Ohio, the second anniversary of the attacks coincided with the first day of Sukkot this year. With that in mind, staff and students designed a two-week series of programs that wove together remembrance, Jewish tradition, and opportunities for reflection.

Inside the Hillel building, a 鈥淲ings of Hope鈥� craft table invited students to write notes to the families of the 48 remaining hostages, to families of fallen soldiers and first responders, or to place messages that staff will later carry to Israel and tuck into the stones of the Kotel, the Western Wall. A visual memorial display offered an educational space for students and allies to engage with the stories of October 7.

During the day on October 7, Hillel hosted an educational workshop entitled 鈥淭eaching Holidays in Multicultural Contexts,鈥� bringing together students from Kent State, University of Mount Union, and Roosevelt High School (Kent), along with members of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe for a half-day workshop teaching about ancestral holidays. One student reflected, 鈥淭hank you for your willingness to share your cultures and religion with us. So much of the information I was not aware of.鈥� 

Then, that evening, students gathered in the sukkah for a 鈥淭aste of Memory鈥� dinner, sharing recipes connected to some of those killed that day, a meaningful way to honor the holiday鈥檚 tradition of welcoming ushpizinm (sacred guests) into the sukkah while also holding space for a day of mourning.

鈥淪tudents continue to seek Hillel as their safe space on campus. While Kent didn鈥檛 experience the same level of disruption and protest as seen on other campuses, neither have we been protected from anti-Zionism and antisemitism,鈥� said Kent Hillel Executive Director Rachel Felber. 鈥淪tudents look to Kent Hillel to provide a welcoming and comfortable space to be their true selves without fear or need to hide a part of their identity.鈥�

Kent Hillel will close the commemoration period on October 16 with a memorial program and facilitated discussion, giving students a space to share grief and process the events together.

Hillel at the University of Albany: Stories of Survivors and Acts of Honor

In New York, Hillel at the University at Albany offered students two opportunities to reflect and connect.

On October 3, students gathered on Zoom to hear from a survivor of the Nova music festival, Tomer Basis, whose three close friends were killed during the October 7 attack. During the conversation, Tomer reflected on the lives of his friends, including Lior Tkach, who loved to cook and had dreamt of opening a coffee shop. The conversation allowed students to listen, grieve, and ask questions in a supportive environment.

鈥淗earing Tomer share his story of surviving the Nova music festival on October 7 was deeply impactful,鈥� said student Simone Silverberg. 鈥淗is courage in recounting such a painful experience was very powerful, and reminded us of the importance of resilience, memory, and unity. This was an incredibly meaningful experience that I will carry with me.鈥�

Later in the month, on October 20, Hillel will host a large public commemoration in the center of campus from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nearly a dozen themed tables will each honor a different victim of October 7, many with connections to UAlbany students and the surrounding community. Activities at each table will reflect the passions of the person being honored. For example, one station will invite students to assemble mini first-aid kits in memory of a victim who had been a dedicated Magen David Adom volunteer.

鈥淪tudents still feel very connected to what happened on October 7 and want to keep the memory of those who were killed alive,鈥� said Rabbi Nomi Manon, UAlbany Hillel鈥檚 executive director. 鈥淚 also think it鈥檚 important to remind the general public that this war started for a reason, and the terror of October 7 was real and devastating.鈥�

Rabbi Manon hopes the program will bring students together as a community, empowering them to express themselves and feel seen as active members of Jewish life on campus. She also notes a growing confidence among Jewish students. 鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing more students than last year, and there鈥檚 less fear around attending Jewish programs or being visibly Jewish on campus,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have been really leaning into the joy of community and students desperately want that 鈥� they want to connect with other students in an easy and fun way without the heaviness of the world hanging over them all the time.鈥� 

Boston University Hillel: A Campus-Wide Memorial at the Heart of Boston University

At Boston University, Hillel hosted two powerful commemorative programs in one of the university鈥檚 most visible gathering spots, Marsh Plaza.

On October 6, the eve of the anniversary, hundreds of students gathered for a memorial ceremony. The hour-long gathering included stories shared by students and Hillel鈥檚 two Israel Fellows, who had been in Israel on October 7 or whose friends and families were directly affected by the attacks. Rabbi Jevin Eagle, the university鈥檚 chaplain and BU Hillel CEO, also led the community in the mourner鈥檚 prayer of Kaddish, and the crowd joined together in singing 鈥淜ol Ha鈥橭lam Kulo,鈥� (鈥淭he Whole World is a Very Narrow Bridge鈥�), and 鈥淗补迟颈办惫补丑.鈥�

Then, on October 7, Hillel transformed the plaza into an all-day public display. A large screen marked the days hostages have been held in Gaza, with a banner declaring 鈥淩emembering Their Names.鈥� Students on site handed out stickers printed with victims鈥� names for passersby to affix to a memorial wall. At the same time, 48 empty chairs, each bearing a hostage鈥檚 photo, sat in solemn rows surrounded by yellow ribbons. Fences were lined with posters bearing the faces of those murdered on October 7.

Thousands of students, faculty, and visitors walked through the display during the day. The experience gave Jewish students a visible space to honor their grief and pride in their community, while also inviting the broader campus to witness the magnitude of the tragedy.

Hillels of North Texas: A Week of Commemoration and Communication

Across Dallas and Denton, the Hillels of North Texas organized and partnered on several programs.

On Friday, October 3, students led a memorial ceremony at University of Texas, Dallas (UTD), created jointly by UTD and Collin College students with support from local clergy. Before the ceremony began, resource tables from Hillel and other local Jewish organizations offered students ways to process grief and learn about community support. Student leaders also shared stories of those killed on October 7, and read messages of resilience and hope. 

Then, on Sunday, October 5, they hosted a community-wide walk in partnership with Run For Their Lives and an evening memorial with the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.

“The event was a somber reminder of the tragedy that took place on October 7th 鈥� Hamas’ brutal massacre, the kidnapping, the pain that still lingers with us. At the same time, the event served as a powerful and moving commemoration and reminder of Jewish resilience,鈥� said student and Hillel co-president Jade Steingberg. 鈥淭hrough the attendance of our Hindu and Christian allies, our incredible Jewish community, and faculty at the university, we are reminded that we are not alone. I am so thankful for Hillel at UT Dallas for organizing this incredible event.”

They will wrap commemorations on Saturday, October 18, in partnership with Hillel at SMU, Stand With Us, and local organizations, at a 鈥淲e Will Dance Again鈥� program featuring Nova Festival survivor Rom El Hai, who will share his story and then DJ a celebratory dance party for students and young adults.

Executive Director Abbii Cook noted that many students 鈥� especially at UT Dallas, where about 200 Jewish students make up a tiny fraction of a 35,000-student campus 鈥� were eager for opportunities to commemorate together and to feel connected to the wider Dallas Jewish community. 鈥淪tudents deeply appreciate opportunities to gather, connect, and celebrate together, finding community and fun even amid challenges,鈥� she said.

Johns Hopkins Hillel: Prayer, Poetry, and Student-Led Testimonials

At Hopkins Hillel, students felt strongly that their commemoration should be held in a central, visible campus space where they could come together with resilience and pride.

鈥淐ommemorating October 7th is essential this year because our students continue to process both the lasting pain of that day and the realities of rising antisemitism on campus and beyond,鈥� said Executive Director Monica Davis. 鈥淐oming together as a community provides a space for reflection, mourning, and solidarity, a reminder that they are not alone in carrying these memories. It also allows students to honor the lives lost, stand with Israel, and strengthen their Jewish identity in a supportive and visible way.鈥�

On the anniversary evening, the community gathered in the Great Hall at Levering for a program that began with Mincha, a 30-minute prayer service, followed by a student-led commemorative ceremony. The service included heartfelt poetry, music, and film, with nearly 100 students attending alongside invited faculty and staff from across the Hopkins schools. A special highlight was a video message from Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who shared his unwavering support for the Jewish community. 

鈥淏eing able to attend the October 7th commemoration put on by Hillel felt like a huge sigh of relief as I was finally able to focus all of my energy on the tragedy of that day without having to worry about the million other things going on in my life,鈥� said student Ido Harlev. 鈥淏eing there with my friends and my community to grieve together, support one another, and just acknowledge that we are still in this terrible moment but at least we aren’t alone, was extremely cathartic.”

“Walking into the Great Hall and seeing it transformed into an exhibition that simultaneously made me feel grief and hope was a perfect way to start what turned out to be an extremely moving and meaningful ceremony,鈥� added student Leila Shafizadeh. 鈥淚’m still devastated about everything that happened on and since October 7th, but I’m immensely proud to be part of a Hopkins Jewish community that knows when and how to support and uplift one another.” 

Through memorial ceremonies, symbolic displays, shared meals, and opportunities for dialogue, Hillel is helping students carry forward the memory of those lost, while fostering resilience and hope for the future.

The post Campus Hillels Mark the Second Anniversary of October 7 with Memory, Resilience, and Community appeared first on 精东影业.

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From the Desk of Adam Lehman: Marking Two Years Since October 7th

Author

Adam Lehman

Date

October 6, 2025

Friends,

We find ourselves two weeks into the Jewish new year of 5786, as we make the transition from the reflective holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to the celebratory spirit of Sukkot, which begins tonight at sundown. At the same time, tomorrow marks two years since October 7, 2023 鈥� one of the most tragic days in Jewish history. And this moment is further intensified by the hope and uncertainty of a potential ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war that would bring home all remaining hostages after more than 700 days in captivity. 

The holiday of Sukkot is referred to as z鈥檓an simchateinu, the season of our rejoicing. In fact, we are literally commanded to be joyful during Sukkot. In the Torah portion which introduces Sukkot, the Torah states, 鈥淵ou shall rejoice in your festival鈥nd you shall have nothing but joy.鈥�  While many have questioned the idea of being 鈥渉appy on command,鈥� those questions are even more relevant this Sukkot, as we remember the lives lost during the atrocities of October 7th and process our grief, anger, and fear from the most recent antisemitic murders committed at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester, England last week on Yom Kippur. How can we both honor the memory of the victims of these horrific attacks and maintain the joyful spirit of Sukkot? 

Jewish college students have been finding ways to strike a balance between seriousness and joy for much of the past two years 鈥� navigating sometimes unwelcoming or even hostile campus environments, while making the most of their opportunities to learn, make and deepen friendships, build community, and strengthen their Jewish identities. 

And they will again have the chance to strike that balance at their Hillels in the coming days, with campus Hillels providing opportunities to both commemorate 10/7 and to observe Sukkot in joyful and creative ways. As one example of the former, many Hillels are hosting exhibitions based on Lee Yaron鈥檚 award-winning book,  The exhibit showcases diverse stories of extraordinary resilience and heroism, while honoring the humanity of the tragic victims of 10/7. And as an example of the latter, students from campuses served by Metro Chicago Hillel will gather in the sukkah to celebrate with meals, crafts, and service, where they will pack care kits for people in need over the course of the holiday.

As my rabbi pointed out during his Kol Nidre sermon, the Hebrew word for wisdom, chochma 讞指讻职诪指讛, is comprised of the roots for both strength, koach 讻止旨讞址, and questioning, mah 诪指讛. Considering these roots of wisdom can help all of us bridge from the deep sorrow and remembrance of tragedy to the meaningful joy and gratitude of Sukkot. 

As we honor the lives lost, we demonstrate the strength of our commitment to the principle 鈥�Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh鈥� 鈥� as Jews, we are all responsible for one another 鈥� while also continuing to interrogate the sources of hate and evil that led to these horrific acts of violence. And as we celebrate Sukkot, we publicly demonstrate the strength of our pride and convictions, and engage in the continued learning and observance that produce even deeper and more durable sources of joy. 

May 5786 provide us all with pathways to greater wisdom that can in turn translate into a year of greater peace, security, joy, and well-being.

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Hope, Memory, and Healing After October 7

Author

Rotem A.

Date

May 28, 2025

Rotem is a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow working at a Florida-based university where she teaches Jewish students about the important place that Israel holds in Jewish identity. Rotem is a survivor of the Nova Music Festival massacre that took place on October 7, 2023, and we are honored that she chose to share her story with us. Please read her story with care for yourself and others.聽

I grew up in Yad Natan in Southern Israel. Sports were always a huge part of my life. I have a degree in physical education from Wingate Institute, and worked as a volleyball coach for a long time. I鈥檝e always believed in helping others, an aspiration I brought to life as a physical education teacher in elementary and high schools, and during a trip to volunteer in Uganda. 

For most of my life, I thought that athletics would be where I found my career. But that changed after October 7.

When I think about the fear and horror of that day, it鈥檚 sometimes hard to remember how lucky I am. I survived the massacre that Hamas perpetrated at the Nova Music Festival, where 410 people were murdered and 44 hostages were taken into captivity. The four friends who I went to the festival with survived, but so many others didn鈥檛. Two of my friends from Herzliya, Israel, who also came to the festival, an event intended to celebrate peace and love, were murdered by terrorists while they hid in shelters. Today, we continue to mourn those who were killed, and to remember those still being held hostage nearly 600 days after they were taken so brutally.

Growing up in Israel, memory is part of everyday life. We鈥檙e surrounded by history, both ancient and modern, and learning that history  is part of our survival. That鈥檚 one reason Yom HaZikaron, Israeli Memorial Day, is the day before Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut, Israel鈥檚 Independence Day. Memory is an essential part of who we are.

But even with the understanding of the role memory plays in my life, for a year after October 7, I was seeped in shock and trauma and chaos. I was searching for myself. I knew I couldn鈥檛 really return to the person I was before that day, but I started to understand that I could take my memories and make them into something meaningful. I could move forward with hope. 

That鈥檚 how I came to be where I am now: serving as a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow, taking the pain that I experienced and turning it into something good by helping Jewish students build a deeper connection to Israel.

 In fact, I see the impact of my work every time I share my story of survival, and I am moved by how emotional the students are in response. My students here are so proud to be Jewish, and I am inspired to see how connected they are to Jewish identity, history, and memory. 

One recent example of their connection to Judaism was the six-hour vigil they held this year to remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. This event also inspired the way I approached an exhibit for Yom HaZikaron on campus. Traditionally, Yom HaZikaron is a day to remember fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror attacks, which since October 7, has come to include the victims of those attacks as well.

This year, I decided to do something that centered our hope for a better, more peaceful future while honoring those who perished. I displayed an exhibition of photos taken by an IDF soldier who serves as a military photographer. The photos depict soldiers who fought on October 7 and released hostages. Not the hostage posters you see, but real photos of who they were, including their names and their stories. It is displayed 精东影业 for everyone to see – underscoring the message that freedom is precious and comes with sacrifice and that focusing on hope for the future, even during dark times, is critical.聽

The victims of October 7, and all those we have lost to war and terror, deserve to be remembered, even amid heartbreak. Their memories can inspire us to connect with one another, as we feel not just grief, but hope for better days ahead.

The post Hope, Memory, and Healing After October 7 appeared first on 精东影业.

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500 Days After October 7, the Hostages are Still in Our Hearts

Author

精东影业

Date

February 16, 2025

Content Warning: This piece contains reference to the October 7 terrorist attacks, including mentions of kidnapping and murder. Please read with care.

It has been 500 days since October 7, 2023. Hamas still holds 70 hostages in unspeakable conditions. Jewish people and their allies around the world are working for their release, telling their stories, and saying their names. Lidar, a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow based at a university in California, shared this story about his friend Sasha Troufanov, who was a hostage in Gaza for 498  days before being released this past weekend. 

For Lidar, advocacy for his friend Sasha Troufanov, taken captive by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and released this past weekend on February 15, 2025, has become an important part of his work with Jewish college students. Sasha鈥檚 story also has become an inspiration to Lidar鈥檚 students at a time of increased antisemitism and isolation in their classes and on campus.  

Lidar and Sasha became friends as young adults. 鈥淚 was a little intimidated by him when we first met,鈥� Lidar said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a big, tall, strong guy, and I was the new guy, and he wasn鈥檛 really talking to me. But then we went to an event together, and we started to talk, and I realized he was just the nicest guy. He was always smiling, always funny.鈥�

Sasha鈥檚 parents lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz, which was brutally attacked on October 7, 2023. A day earlier, Sasha and his girlfriend, Sapir, had gone to visit his parents for Shabbat. The next morning, Hamas terrorists unleashed terror upon the kibbutz, murdering Sasha鈥檚 father, Vitaly, and taking Sasha and Sapir hostage, along with Sasha鈥檚 mother, Yelena, and grandmother, Irena. The three women were freed during the first hostage-release deal in November 2023, but Sasha remained in captivity until this weekend, with very little known about his condition.

鈥淭here were two videos of him released last year, but we didn鈥檛 know anything more, and none of the hostages who came home talked about seeing him,鈥� Lidar said. 

Sasha鈥檚 friends and family were given new hope recently when they learned that Sasha was on the list of hostages to be released in the first phase of this current hostage release and ceasefire deal, but聽 they remained anxious about his condition. 鈥淪eeing Sasha come home alive was everything I could have hoped for over the last 16 months,鈥� Lidar said.聽

In reflecting on Sasha鈥檚 time in captivity, Lidar said that he made sharing stories about his friend part of his daily routine. 鈥淥ne of Sasha鈥檚 habits was that every day at three o鈥檆lock, no matter what was happening or what he was doing, he鈥檇 have a coffee break,鈥� Lidar said. 鈥淣o matter what, three o鈥檆lock is coffee time. After he was kidnapped, some of his friends in Israel started doing 鈥榗offee for Sasha鈥� every day at three o鈥檆lock, and I started doing it here on campus.  It was  a way of pausing together and bringing some of his personality and his warmth everywhere we went.鈥�

Thinking about how long Sasha was in captivity – and about the many hostages who remain in Gaza today –  is difficult. 鈥淚 remember the first Yom HaZikaron (Israel鈥檚 day of remembrance for fallen soldiers and victims of terror) after October 7, we all thought that there was no way we鈥檇 get to a year without the hostages coming home,鈥� Lidar said. 鈥淎nd now it鈥檚 been 500 days, and it鈥檚 just not on people鈥檚 minds in the same way anymore.鈥�

Lidar hopes that people around the world will continue to keep the remaining 70 hostages in their hearts and prayers, tell their stories, and work to secure their release.  鈥淲hile they鈥檙e still [in Gaza], we can鈥檛 fully breathe,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e all need to keep talking and remember that they鈥檙e still there, and we need to do everything in our power to get them back home.鈥� 

Hear from Israel Fellows across the country about their experiences in the aftermath of October 7 and how they are sharing their stories with Jewish students on college and university campuses. 

The post 500 Days After October 7, the Hostages are Still in Our Hearts appeared first on 精东影业.

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Marking One Year Since October 7, Students Gather to Remember, Grieve, and Advocate for the Hostages鈥� Return

Author

精东影业

Date

October 10, 2024

On college campuses in the United States, Canada, and around the world, students came together one year after the horrific October 7 attacks on Israel: to mourn, to pray, to hope, and to gain strength from one another in community. Hillels serving students at hundreds of colleges and universities took a leading role in organizing events, including vigils, marches, and art installations; all with the goal of giving Jewish students safe and supportive spaces to connect, process, and grieve.聽

Here are just some of the many ways Jewish college students marked one year since October 7 精东影业.

At Boston University Hillel, Student Groups Came Together to Mourn and Remember

Boston University Students for Israel (BUSI) and Boston University Hillel held a memorial to commemorate the October 7 attacks, and to give students a space to gather in community and safety, separate from politics

鈥淭oday is to memorialize,鈥� said Livia Prince, vice president of BUSI, according to The Daily Free Press. 鈥淔or us, it鈥檚 not a political thing. It鈥檚 not the headlines. It鈥檚 more than that.鈥�

Boston University has approximately 4,000 Jewish students, making it the largest undergraduate Jewish population at any private university, but these students weren鈥檛 alone on Monday. Students from surrounding campuses in the Boston area also attended the vigil and memorial, which featured photos of the victims, survivor testimonies, and a remembrance board where visitors could place stickers of the victims鈥� names. 

Rutgers University Students Create Spaces for Commemoration, Grief, and Support

For Rutgers University Hillel, honoring the victims of the October 7 attacks has been an ongoing part of student programming and communal support. 

Following the murder of six hostages in Gaza, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Jewish students held a vigil. They also hosted an art gallery exhibit with prints from the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, featuring remarks from survivors of the Nova Music festival, and, most recently, held a joint Jewish-Hindu yoga event in memory of murdered hostage Carmel Gat.

On the anniversary of the attacks, students also came together for events and conversations across campus. A memorial for the victims stretched from one end of Voorhees Mall to the other, and included signs, artwork, an empty Shabbat table, and ribbons for those killed, kidnapped, and released. There was also an area for writing messages on kites and planting seeds in flower pots 鈥� which symbolized students鈥� desires for a better future. 

鈥淲e had hundreds of students attend, and the mood was both mournful and full of hope,鈥� said Rabbi Esther Reed, chief experience officer at Rutgers Hillel. 鈥淚t gave our community a chance to come together in solidarity, to mourn, and to express hope.鈥�

鈥淲e got to pay our respects to those who were murdered, taken, and still held hostage, and those who risked their lives to protect Israel,鈥� said Mitch Wolf (class of 2025), student president of Rutgers Hillel. 鈥淲e gathered as a community to do what was right, remember everyone who was silenced and taken from us, and to show that we are united as one Jewish community on campus.鈥�

At Stanford Hillel, Jewish and Israeli Students Honored the Victims and Hostages of October 7

Empty chairs and tables have become a symbol of commemoration for the October 7 victims and hostages. At Meyer Green, a park in Stanford University, students and community members gathered within a circle of empty chairs, each with a photo of someone missing or murdered in the October 7 attack. Holding Israeli flags and candles, students led Hebrew prayers and held moments of silence within the 鈥淟et Our People Go鈥� exhibit, organized by Hillel at Stanford. 

鈥淭he way I see the world, the pain I feel and the safety I perceive, have been irreversibly changed,鈥� said Naama Bejerano (class of 2025), an Israeli Stanford student, according to The Stanford Daily. 鈥淚 hope we can take our collective pain and come together鈥o support one another, to be present for those who cannot, and to continue to care for each other the way we care for ourselves.鈥�

At UCLA, October 7 Events Included a March, a Vigil, and a Heart-wrenching Play

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) made headlines last spring when anti-Israel protesters set up illegal encampments and checkpoints at the school that restricted access to parts of campus for Jewish students.. 

鈥溾�淥ur Hillel has made a point to promote dialogue and openness on our campus, something that many activists on our campus fight against as part of their problematic non-normalization campaign against Israel and Zionism,鈥� said Dan Gold, executive director of Hillel at UCLA. 鈥淲e know that the only path toward a more positive campus climate must include listening to each other and honoring the narratives we all offer.鈥� 鈥� 

To commemorate the October 7 attacks, Jewish students at UCLA held a solidarity march around campus, as well as a vigil in Bruin Plaza attended by about 700 people. UCLA also hosted a reading of 鈥淥ctober 7,鈥� a play that dramatizes the accounts of survivors of the October 7 attacks, and is based on interviews with about 20 survivors of the attacks. 

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know the weight of this until we were reading it,鈥� actor Josh Bitton told the Los Angeles Times. Bitton鈥檚 connection to the October 7 attacks is extremely personal. Three of his family members were killed and two kidnapped from Kibbutz Be鈥檈ri. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 been an honor to be a part of this. It feels like one of the only ways I feel like I can do anything,鈥� he said.

鈥淭his performance was a great way for our Hillel to memorialize the victims of Hamas鈥� horrific terrorist attack on 10/7 by bringing their voices to our community and promoting their narratives and their truths of what happened that day,鈥� added Gold. 

More Than 1,000 Jewish Students at the University of Maryland Come Together

Holding candles and wearing t-shirts with the words 鈥淣ever Forget 10.7.2023,鈥� more than 1,100 people attended a vigil organized by Maryland Hillel on Monday night. Gathered outside the Hillel building, Jewish students sang, prayed, and shared words honoring those killed on October 7 and the impact the attack had on the students鈥� lives. 

鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 just be ordinary students,鈥� said Emma Steinhause, UMD鈥檚 Jewish Student Union vice president, quoted in The Diamondback. 鈥淲e had to transform ourselves into advocates, leaders, and spokespeople for the Jewish community.鈥�

In addition to Hillel鈥檚 vigil, Terps for Israel also hosted a memorial for the hostages, which included a display of metal chairs with the name of each hostage kidnapped on October 7, and a Shabbat table for those who died in the Hamas attack, featuring the names and faces of Americans taken hostage by Hamas. 

鈥淲hen we have our low moments, the only way that we can rise up is together,鈥� said Adina Hawk, a senior whose cousin, a medic, died serving in Gaza earlier this year.

University of Wisconsin Hillel鈥檚 Vigil Commemorated the Past, and Offered Hope for the Future

On the evening of October 7, more than 600 students gathered at Library Hall on the University of Wisconsin campus to mourn the lives lost in Israel and to advocate for the hostages still in captivity. The vigil, organized by UW Hillel, included speakers from Hillel and Chabad, as well as community members and a rabbi. 

鈥淎s soon as I got up to the podium and looked up, [I was] teary-eyed, completely,鈥� said Erika Klein, a speaker at the event and an intern on the Israel Leadership Council with UW Hillel, in an interview with The Badger Herald. 鈥淚t was so amazing to see how many people came out.鈥�

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Remembrance and Renewal: Honoring Our Memories on Yom Kippur

Author

Rabbi Dan Epstein

Date

October 9, 2024

As we mark the one-year commemoration of October 7th, we also will honor the 1,200 people killed last October when we say Yizkor, a prayer of remembrance, this Yom Kippur. Sadly, last year鈥檚 massacre is another tragic moment to be inscribed on the Jewish calendar. 

Memorializing tragic communal events is ingrained in our practice and our liturgy. Some historians believe that the Ashkenazi tradition of saying Yizkor originated to commemorate the victims of the Crusades. Each Jew is a monument to a great family tradition that has survived incredible odds. As Jews, we do not build monuments of stone; rather, we fill our sanctuaries with stories. The Jewish library of history is not a building, but a repository of memory that is organic and human, a living breathing history book. 

This year, Yizkor will not be a recollection of ancient tragedies long past, but a remembrance of a wound that is still open and raw. This tragedy is ongoing, and yet we pause on Yom Kippur to remember the past, reflect on those we have lost, and process collective and individual traumatic events. 

We say Yizkor every year, no matter the situation. Yizkor was recited in the concentration camps during the Holocaust, and when the Cossacks attacked. These moments of pause can become therapeutic at an individual level, and are essential at a communal level to keep people connected.  

Yizkor is related to the word 鈥�zachor鈥� 鈥� both share a root meaning “to remember.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks points out that the Hebrew language has no word for “history.” It had to borrow one. In fact, the Torah never says to study history 鈥� instead, it tells us to remember.

History is written in books, but we are each the repositories of Jewish memory.

Rabbi Sacks explains further: 

“There is a profound difference between history and memory. History is 鈥渉is鈥� story 鈥� an event that happened somewhere else to someone else. Memory is 鈥渕y鈥� story 鈥� something that happened to me and is part of who I am. History is information. Memory, by contrast, is part of identity. I can study the history of other peoples, cultures, and civilizations. They deepen my knowledge and broaden my horizons. But they do not make a claim on me.”

Our memory and our personal experiences over the past year are sanctified in the Yizkor service. This balance of personal and communal mourning in the Yizkor service mirrors the experience that is especially relevant this year, as we are remembering and mourning so many people who were close to us while recognizing that each of our individual stories make up the collective whole. 

The Torah constantly tells us to remember many things. This Yizkor, we will remember those we lost, and in some way, keep them alive by keeping their memories alive. 

As we enter Yom Kippur this year, in light of those we lost so tragically, Yizkor gives us the opportunity to tell the story of what happened to us personally and process it, and to honor and remember those who we lost. Amid ongoing tragedy, we must also reflect on what we have experienced. 

I encourage everyone, before the Yizkor service, on Erev Yom Kippur, to write down your own personal recollections of October 7th and its aftermath.聽 Write down what you remember, and your emotions, your questions, and your hopes. Keep these reflections for yourself as a physical symbol of your memory from this past year. Keep these writings for future generations.

Yizkor teaches us that it is our memories which are holy and sacred, and it is in these memories that our loved ones live on. 

Daniel Epstein is the Rabbi at George Washington University Hillel where he has worked for the past eight years. When he is not on campus he spends time with his wife Odelia and his three kids Emmett, Emunah, and Ahavaha. He also runs the website in his free time.聽

Remembrance and Renewal is a series of reflections around the High Holidays and the first commemoration of October 7 from Hillel educators across North America. Read Rabbi Jessica Lott’s thoughts on entering a new year with old grief and Judith Dworkin’s words on remembering people we have lost through the words of the kaddish prayer.

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Remembrance and Renewal: Navigating Grief Through Prayer

Author

Judith Moses Dworkin

Date

October 5, 2024

On the one-year commemoration of October 7, we reflect on profound loss and take comfort in what we can learn from our Jewish tradition of mourning. The , a foundational prayer recited in memory of loved ones, offers a framework for understanding how Jewish mourning rituals provide space not only for grief, but also for resilience, continuity, and the continuation of the human spirit in the face of deep sorrow.

The Structure of Kaddish: A Prayer of Praise Amid Sorrow

While the Kaddish is a prayer said at times of mourning, it is also a statement about life and understanding G-d. The prayer begins with “Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei rabba” 鈥� “May G-d鈥檚 great name be magnified and sanctified.” In commemorating the tragic events of October 7, this first sentence emphasizes that even amid great sorrow, Jewish tradition calls for a reaffirmation of faith and belief that life will give us hope for better times. 

This belief, despite the darkness that surrounds us, is a reminder of the resilience of the Jewish people. On the anniversary of October 7, reciting or reflecting on the Kaddish symbolizes our determination to find strength in faith, and to recall the source of support that exists around us even when we are grappling with trauma and loss.

“B’alma di-v’ra khirutei” 鈥� A Vision of Peace in a Broken World

The Kaddish states “which God created according to Their divine,” which implies that everything is part of creation, even the times that are terrible and difficult to understand. This line of Kaddish offers a subtle hope: Even in a world that contains incomprehensible tragedy, there also exist ways we can come together to support each other, and try to hold each other鈥檚 pain. 

We honor those who were lost or harmed on October 7 and its aftermath, and work on repairing the world in a way that reflects our beliefs and values. Reciting and reflecting on the Kaddish can remind us that we are not powerless, and we hold the tools to emerge from this tragedy less broken than before. 

Community in Mourning: The Kaddish as a Shared Act

Reciting the Kaddish is an act of community, as it needs a gathering of at least 10 people to recite the prayer. On the one-year anniversary of October 7, in our community gatherings, we will remember, reflect, and grieve together in the same spirit. The shared experience of reciting Kaddish can help us heal, and affirms that while we may think we are suffering alone, in reality, it is something that we all bear together. 

A Call for Healing and Renewal

Toward the end of the Kaddish, the prayer asks for “peace from heaven” (Y鈥檋ei shlama raba min-sh鈥檓aya), and for peace to reign over us all. These words reflect a yearning for the end of suffering, and illustrate a comfort that we yearn for. On October 7, as we come together to remember, we think of the Kaddish to re-center our desire for peace across all our communities as we make our way through a new year.  

Elevating Memory through Kaddish

On the one-year anniversary of October 7, the Kaddish serves as a poignant framework for remembrance, healing, and resilience. It sends a powerful message that even in the face of the unspeakable, we are called to sanctify life, to come together in community, and to look toward a future where we will stand strong and keep moving forward. The prayer’s timeless message of praise, hope, and unity offers profound meaning, as we honor the past and seek a path forward together.

Judith Moses Dworkin is the Senior Vice President of Campus Life and Advocacy at . Originally from Toronto, Judith has also worked 精东影业s in North Carolina and Michigan.

Remembrance and Renewal is a series of reflections around the High Holidays and the first commemoration of October 7 from Hillel rabbis across North America.

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Every Day Since: Bring My Family Home

Author

Ron Tsur

Date

October 5, 2024

The following article contains discussions of traumatic events, including the October 7th attacks, which may be difficult for some readers.

On October 7, 2023, my cousins Ofer, Sahar, and Erez Calderon were kidnapped and taken hostage in Gaza. For 52 excruciating days, they endured unimaginable conditions 鈥� deprived of adequate food, water, and even oxygen 鈥� before Erez and Sahar were finally returned to Israel as part of a hostage exchange deal with Hamas. Ofer Calderon, the father of Erez and Sahar, remains in captivity. Almost a year into his abduction, we鈥檝e received few details regarding his mental or physical condition or even confirmation of whether he is still alive. 

While I was born in Israel and much of my family still lives there, I moved to the United States at a young age. I鈥檓 now a senior in college, studying business management with a minor in film studies. I always knew I wanted to do something out of the ordinary, but I could never have imagined how much my life would change after October 7.

That morning, I woke up thinking that it would be like any other Saturday, and I was preparing for a football tailgate when my friends and I started hearing that something bad was happening in Israel. At the time, no one really knew what was happening, and even my friends and family in Israel didn鈥檛 understand the full extent of the attack. Since my grandparents live just outside the Gaza Envelope, the border area surrounding Gaza, I spent most of the day texting my parents, checking to make sure my grandparents were okay. As the news poured in, it became clear just how horrific the situation was. 

The only thing that made sense in that moment was to lean on my Israel Fellow and my Jewish community on campus, which would become increasingly more important to me in the coming days. I became involved with Hillel, hosting events for students to connect and process the trauma of what had happened with each other. We focused on what we could control: spreading the word about the brutal events of October 7, and keeping attention on the hostages. As the weeks passed, I immersed myself in advocating for the hostages and their families, trying to find a balance between midterms, activism, and being a college student.

I witnessed the situation on campus for Jewish and Israeli students deteriorating. My college administrators have been supportive, but it’s still scary to hold an Israeli flag or wear a Magen David in public. I often ask myself when it will be safe and normal to be Jewish on campus again. And at the same time, how do we ensure that what happened on October 7 doesn鈥檛 get erased from the world鈥檚 memory?

More than anything, the hostages and their families deserve the world鈥檚 attention, especially as we mark a year of their captivity. Words cannot fully convey the heartbreak I鈥檝e felt over the last 12 months. Yet my suffering pales in comparison to the horrors experienced by so many others that day. My cousins are back, but as they鈥檝e said, they haven鈥檛 really been released. Not as long as their dad is still there.

Ron Tsur (Class of 2025) is a student at the University of Georgia, and a member of 精东影业’s Content Creators Forum .

Every Day Since is a series of original stories about the impact of October 7 on Jewish students and professionals on campus. Learn more about Eyal, a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow who came to the United States to connect with Jewish college students, and about Abi Schcolnik, an international student and co-chair of 精东影业鈥檚 student cabinet, who is working to combat antisemitism on campus following October 7.

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Every Day Since: Engu鈥檚 Journey to Safeguard Israel Through Education

Author

精东影业

Date

October 5, 2024

The following article contains discussions of traumatic events, including the October 7th attacks, which may be difficult for some readers.

For Engu, life in Israel was the fulfillment of a dream. Born in Ethiopia, she was only five years old when her family emigrated to Israel, carrying with them the hopes of generations who yearned for a Jewish homeland. However, in the wake of the October 7th attacks, Engu 鈥� who had built a thriving career at the Israeli Ministry of Finance 鈥� left everything behind to become a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow, determined to ensure her family鈥檚 dream survives.

That fateful Shabbat morning, Engu woke up to the sound of sirens. She is part of a large, close-knit family, and she was spending Shabbat at her family鈥檚 apartment in Rishon L鈥橳zion, with her mother, sister, niece, and nephew. The sense of calm that had filled the home the night before quickly evaporated as the sounds of rockets echoed through the sky.

鈥淭here was no mamad [bomb shelter] in the apartment,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淲e grabbed the children and ran to the stairwell, hoping it would be over after the first siren. But the sirens kept coming 鈥� every two seconds.鈥�

Clutching her niece and nephew in her arms, Engu prayed that they would be safe, that she would be able to return the children to their parents unharmed. Since it was Shabbat, their phones were off and they had no idea what was happening. Finally, her sister checked the news, and they came to understand the full extent of what they were living through: Hamas militants had broken through Israel鈥檚 borders, and a wave of terror was unfolding in real time.

By the end of the day, Israeli soldiers were being called up to serve, and the weight of the tragedy began to sink in. 鈥淗ow do you just go back to work after something like that?鈥� Engu asked. For the next few months, she continued her role working on economic policy at the Ministry of Finance, balancing the logistical demands of keeping the economy running with the emotional toll of the ongoing crisis. 

鈥淚t was the busiest and most painful time of my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 felt like I had two jobs 鈥� managing my work and holding my team together emotionally.鈥�

But as the months passed and her colleagues returned from reserve duty, Engu realized that something had shifted within her. She began to immerse herself in survivor testimonials, photographs, and videos from the attacks. 鈥淚 cried all the time,鈥� she admitted. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 understand how people around the world were blaming Israel for what had happened.鈥�

It was in this moment of grief and confusion that Engu knew she had to take action.

Scrolling through Facebook one day, Engu stumbled upon a post from the Jewish Agency advertising a position as an Israel Fellow. It struck a chord. 鈥淚 knew that sharing Israel鈥檚 history and culture with students abroad was what I needed to do,鈥� she said. Engu felt that as an Israel Fellow she would have the opportunity to tell Israel鈥檚 story and combat the misinformation and hatred towards Israel that she was reading about online.

Yet leaving her job was no easy decision. Her family, who had always supported her career, struggled to understand her choice. 鈥淭here was this expectation for me to stay, to work, and to settle down,鈥� Engu explained. 

But for Engu, the decision was deeply personal. Her family鈥檚 dream had always been to reach Jerusalem, to build a life in Israel. 鈥淚f Israel goes away, then that dream goes with it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 let that happen. I had to go where I could use my voice to speak up for Israel.鈥�

Now, Engu serves as an Israel Fellow on a university campus in the United States, teaching students about Israel in an increasingly hostile environment. The work isn鈥檛 easy. 

鈥淭hings were challenging right at the beginning,鈥� she explained, recalling the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that greeted students at the start of the academic year. 鈥淚t was the first thing the first-year students saw when they arrived.鈥�

Engu finds the ongoing grief of her work to be the most challenging part of her role. 鈥淲henever something happens in Israel, I feel alone in my own mourning,鈥� she said. While her students and colleagues participate in vigils and share moments of solidarity, Engu carries the weight of these tragedies long after the events have ended.

Despite the challenges, Engu remains hopeful. 鈥淚 am here to understand the students and their feelings, and to make an impact in my own way. I have faith that it will happen,鈥� she said.

As Israel faces mounting challenges, Engu鈥檚 determination to protect the dream her family carried with them from Ethiopia burns brighter than ever. She knows the road ahead will be difficult, but for her, it鈥檚 the most important work she could be doing.

Every Day Since is a series of original stories about the impact of October 7 on Jewish students and professionals on campus. Learn more about Eyal, a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow who came to the United States to connect with Jewish college students, and about Abi Schcolnik, an international student and co-chair of 精东影业鈥檚 student cabinet, who is working to combat antisemitism on campus following October 7.

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