Thousands at JCC Mark First Yahrzeit of October 7, 2023 Massacre Victims

Story by Miriam Gershenson; Photos by Albert Kreimerman

LA JOLLA, California – A year ago Monday, a horrific terror attack took place when Hamas terrorists broke into Israel and violently murdered, raped, and kidnapped civilians. It is hard to believe that a year later, the war is still waging and 101 hostages both dead and alive are still living the nightmare in Gaza. The trauma affects Jews all around the world. This was evident at the Lawrence Family JCC lawn where thousands of people gathered to commemorate and unite.

The line was long as people waited to be let in at 6pm. The event was meant to start at 6:15 pm. As we all know, Jewish time works differently so the approximately 90-minute-long event started closer to 7 pm. During the waiting period, there was plenty to look at and do. As shown in the accompanying photographs, you could add your words to a giant chalkboard, look at the photos of those who perished, color in a piece of collective art, meditate to a sound bath, describe your thoughts in one word, discuss campus life at UCSD, and appreciate memorial art.

The weather was bleak as the mood. The fog and darkness paired well with the topic at hand. I wondered if the hostages were also feeling uncomfortably cold and then realized how fortunate I am to be able to choose to be in this cold. The event was a standing event with chairs reserved for people who needed them. I saw people kneeling and sitting on the ground throughout the event and still felt fortunate that we have the choice to be there and if anyone wanted, they could leave at any moment. We have free will, something the hostages don’t.

The event started with a gang of shofar blowers. I remembered speaking to my rabbi about the meaning- for God to hear his children cry out for him. I hope God heard the cry on behalf of us as a people and on behalf of those still stuck in the nightmare that is Hamas and their tunnels. The evening was filled with songs, prayers, and speeches. Some faces I recognized and others I didn’t. Most did not have an introduction before coming on stage.

Security was heavy. Drones patrolled each corner of the park adjacent to the Jewish Community Center building; armed guards were atop roofs, and K9 security was on the ground.  There were metal detectors at the entrances and no bags of any kind were allowed in.  There were no demonstrators protesting or interruptions of any kind.

There were many notable speeches in my opinion. One from Mayor Todd Gloria who became emotional as he spoke to the crowd mentioning Sha’ar Hanegev, a San Diego sister city. There were family members of people who were hostages, current hostages, and even the murdered. Those speeches, I think, were the most emotional and the hardest to hear. The last speech by Charlene Seidle, President and CEO of the Leichtag Foundation, spoke about the local Jewish community and the achievements over this past year with another woman on stage. Photos were shared that showed just how united we have become.

During this speech, I had a sudden realization. The terrorists lost. We are now more united than we have ever been before. People who have not participated in their communities have joined. Jewish events and organizations are bursting at the seams with all the people who have now realized the importance of the Jewish tribe. They tried to break us, but we grew bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.

The evening concluded with all the event organizers standing on the stage together singing, “One Day” by Matisyahu led by two guitar players. This was immediately following a video compilation of the residents of Sha’ar Hanegev thanking San Diego for their support and welcoming us all to one day be hosted there. During Passover we say, “next year in Jerusalem.” I’d like to change it up, “Next year in Sha’ar Hanegev!”

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Miriam Gershenson is a freelance writer based in Escondido.