Southern California Jews solemnly remember Oct. 7 on anniversary of attack
As the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel and the beginning of a subsequent war arrives, many Southern Californians remain filled with grief, anger and, at times, hope.
Jews find comfort through community, healing
As Jewish people worldwide celebrate the High Holidays in October – including Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur – many are mourning the situation in Israel while finding strength in community.
In Hollywood, the nonprofit Jewish Family Service LA hosted a Rosh Hashanah gathering for Holocaust survivors through its Café Europa social program. Nearly 50 elderly survivors came to the luncheon, eating traditional foods and sweets, singing the “Shalom Aleichem” and other lively songs, and praying Hebrew blessings for a better upcoming year.
Many Jewish leaders have called the events of Oct. 7 the deadliest attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust. Senior Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz, from Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, shared about his experiences going to Israel four times since that day, and shared an encouraging message for Rosh Hashanah, calling it an “optimistic, hopeful time of year.”
“As difficult as it is for Jewish people this year, with the attacks on Israel, the rising tide of antisemitism here in the U.S., it’s still incumbent on us as Jews to look at the world in a hopeful manner,” Lebovitz, 45, told the survivors. “This has been a year that we did not imagine could happen after the stories of your life. We thought those stories belonged in your memories, in history books; stories that you taught younger generations. We didn’t think it would be stories that we would experience ourselves.”
Amid the sweet traditions and cheer, attendees said they were hopeful for a solution amid conflict.
“The Oct. 7 attacks bring up a lot of unpleasant memories,” said survivor Maria Ross. “I wish for peace going into this new year. If you have peace, you have everything.”
Risa Igelfeld, a 106-year-old Holocaust survivor, said that mourning the Jews has been “just terrible.” But she was grateful to be with other survivors on Rosh Hashanah.
Jewish Family Service LA also offered mental health support for the elderly survivors after the Oct. 7 attacks, said Susan Belgrade, who has attended Café Europa’s weekly gatherings for over a decade.
Honoring Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays at the same time as the one-year anniversary means looking ahead, Belgrade said, to hopefully have a better year. Jewish people are praying specifically “to overcome tragedy, and derive courage from each other … which is needed now more than ever. People have told me, (Café Europa) is a place where I come to heal.”
Article written by The Orange County Register.
