CHULA VISTA, California (Press Release) — This past Thursday night, Temple Beth Shalom hosted a deeply poignant ecumenical vigil for Israel, gathering a diverse community to stand in unified support amid the heart-wrenching loss of 1300 Israelis in the malicious attacks by Hamas terrorists. Seven local churches joined Temple Beth Shalom for this unique event.
The vigil began solemnly with an invocation by Mayor John McCann and former Mayor Mary Salas, both expressing a potent solidarity felt within the Chula Vista community toward the tragic events unfolding in Israel. Their words permeated the assembly, emphasizing the unity and collective mourning shared by all present.
The atmosphere intensified as Sandy Scheller evoked stark imagery of the Holocaust, even presenting a Holocaust shirt, to underscore the chilling reminder that the sinister spirit of Nazism persists in the present day. Her lighting of three candles poignantly symbolized the lives lost during the Holocaust, those lost since 1948 to Arab wars and terrorism, and a hopeful candle illuminated for the future, embodying the prayers of the Jewish community for a forthcoming era of peace and reconciliation between Israel and her neighbors.
Reverend Placido Fee Soliven from the Amazing Grace Christian Fellowship shared heartfelt anecdotes of how his church had journeyed to Israel in 2006 to stand in solidarity during the conflict with Hezbollah. In a testament to the unity and shared compassion among varied faith communities, other Christian ministers including Reverend Liz Wilson Manahan from the Presbyterian Church and Reverend Victoria Freiheit from the Community Congregational Church of Chula Vista, shared moving recitations from the Psalms and Lamentations, their words offering both comfort and solemn reflection.
Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel, spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom, poignantly highlighted the harrowing details of the Hamas attack, while emphasizing the resilient spirit of the Jewish community in the face of recurrent historical adversities. Echoing the assertive promise of “Never Again,” he underscored the unyielding determination of the Jewish community, mentioning that while they have traversed this painful path before and survived the dark era of Nazism, today’s Jewish populace possesses the means to defend itself, marking a historical milestone in nearly 2000 years of Jewish history.
The program, attended by nearly 100 people, was not merely a memorial service but a potent display of unified support, shared grief, and collective resistance against terror and oppression, transcending religious and cultural boundaries. It stood as a testament that, amidst tragedy, disparate communities could come together, embodying a resilient spirit of unity, strength, and hopeful aspirations for a future of peace and reconciliation amidst the turbulent times.
*
Preceding provided by Temple Beth Shalom