This Monday, October 7, marked the one year anniversary of the horrific invasion and murder of 1,200 innocent Israelis that triggered what is still the incredibly painful conflict in that region.
In Falls Church, the worst assault on the Jewish people since the Holocaust was commemorated with a solemn statement from the Falls Church City Council and a special shared service of the Northern Virginia Jewish Community at Falls Church’s Temple Rodef Shalom that was filled with an overflow crowd in attendance Sunday night.
The City Council statement, read by Council member David Snyder at a work session of the Council in City Hall, read, “This day should go down in memory as a day of infamy, not unlike December 7, 1941 or September 11, 2001, not only for the terrible events of that day but also for the killing and the destruction of families, communities and economies that have followed.”
The Temple Rodef Shalom service was broken into three parts entitled Mourning, Perseverance and Hope. Key lines in the prayers, songs and recitations were those which focused on peace, kindness and a better future.
The event was held in the context of events throughout the Metropolitan D.C. region of similar commemorations and also in support of the Palestinian people who have been victims of the violence in Gaza.
At the White House in Washington, D.C. among many statements acknowledging the day from President Biden and Vice President Harris came the words from press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on behalf of the U.S. White House at the daily press briefing which included the following:
“Today is a solemn day and a day of remembrance. One year ago, on October 7th, Hamas launched a heinous attack against Israel. On a day that was supposed to be a joyous Jewish holiday of singing and dancing, Hamas terrorists streamed across the border from Gaza into Israel and massacred more than 1,200 innocent people, including 46 Americans, at a music festival.
“They committed horrific acts of sexual violence. In many cases, these terrorists recorded their acts of barbarity and carnage, chilling, documenting the unspeakable atrocities they committed for others to see.
“This morning, the president and the first lady lit a yahrzeit candle to remember all those who were massacred by Hamas in what was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
“The president and the first lady were joined by Rabbi Aaron Alexander of Adas Israel Congregation for the candle lighting in remembrance of the victims of the October 7th attacks.
“The rabbi recited ‘God Full of Mercy,’ a Jewish prayer for the soul of a person who has died. It is recited during burial services and memorial services.
“Rabbi Alexander is a family friend of the Goldberg-Polin family. Hersh Goldberg-Polin was abducted by Hamas on October 7th and held hostage for almost 11 months until he was murdered by Hamas.
“The president also issued a statement mourning those who were killed and recognizing the more than 250 innocents, including 12 Americans, who were taken hostage. The president has met with many of their families and grieved with them. As he said this morning, ‘They have been through hell.’ So many families have lost loved ones on October 7th and will never be the same.
“President Biden and Vice President Harris have stood strongly in support of the people of Israel and they made clear again today they are fully committed to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist.
“As we reflect on the past year and all that has happened since October 7th, we also mourn the loss of innocent life in Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives as a result of the conflict that Hamas’ terrorism has unleashed.”
The day following the Sunday service at Temple Rodef Shalom, temple representatives reached out to attendees via email to thank them for attending and announcing an offer of virtual support group participation for all over age 30 “to process the collective trauma experienced in the aftermath of Oct. 7. “As a group, we will discuss our emotional reactions to the event of the last year, how grief and loss have shown up for us, and how the recent surge in antisemitism impacts our lives.”
Some of the key lines in the prayers during the service Sunday night were those which proclaimed “You did not create us to kill each other. Your name is life and peace. Restore our lives with acts of love and kindness. May our hearts not harden. We also hold for the humanity of the Palestinian people. Let us continue to pursue the better path to the future.
“All of us, yes all of us, are one living human tapestry…If we knew how to comfort the hostility, if only we knew…If we knew how to quiet our rage, amidst our panic, to say sorry, if we’d know how to start from the beginning.”
