CURRENT ISSUES FOR OUR IRAC COMMUNITY

October 7, Where Are We Three Years Later? Memory, Accountability, and Moving Forward

An Excerpt from Orly’s latest Newsletter, which you can read in full here.

This week, we mark the anniversary of October 7th according to the Gregorian calendar with ceremonies and gatherings across the country. Yesterday, I attended a ceremony at Hebrew Union College, where rabbinical student Zohar Avigdori told the heartbreaking story of how his sister-in-law and niece were kidnapped on October 7th along with other family members, and about the courageous fight for their release. After 50 days in captivity, they came home safely, but he continued the fight until all hostages returned.
 
Exactly one year ago, on Hoshana Rabbah 5786, all of the living hostages returned home. It was an uplifting moment that came after two terrible years.

On the latest episode of the Pluralist podcast, Rabbi Josh Weinberg and I spoke about what it means to remember October 7th three years later, both in Israel and in North America. We reflected on how the events of that day continue to shape our communities in different ways, and on how we can carry the memory of what was lost while finding a path forward. You can listen here.
 
Over the past year, I have repeatedly reminded myself of the success of the struggle to bring the hostages home. It reminds me that even when a situation appears hopeless, when we come together and persist, we have the power to change reality. We have the ability to spread light amid darkness.
 
The wonderful duo, The Djamchid Sisters, have a moving song about October 7, in which they sing, When there are no answers and no miracles when we need them / we keep weeping amid the thick smoke / and keep seeing the light as it darkens.

This is what I take with me this week. We must remember what is lost and continue demand answers about the utter failure of our leadership. And we must chose life.
 
Sincerely,
Orly Erez-Likhovski