Jewish community members in Philadelphia area gather to mark three years since October 7 attacks

LOWER MERION TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — Members of the Jewish community across the Greater Philadelphia area gathered in Lower Merion Wednesday evening to remember the events of October 7, 2023.

On that day three years ago, Hamas militants stormed Israeli communities along the border with Gaza, killing more than 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.

“We felt vulnerabilities, and we had loss of life on a scale that we had not felt since the Holocaust,” said Rabbi Eric Yanoff, of Adath Israel, where Wednesday’s event was held.

Jessica Cook, of South Philadelphia, was part of the ceremony.

“I think so many of us American Jews have this experience where this consumes us. This has been every bit of our life for three years,” she told Action News. “And then we walk out into the street, and we’re like, ‘Oh, nobody else is experiencing this except for us.'”

However, in the Middle East, the Israel-Hamas war continues.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, while more than 2,000 Israelis have been killed between the October 7 attacks and the war.

Michael Balaban, who serves as the President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, attended the community remembrance ceremony.

With tears in his eyes, Balaban said, “People ask, ‘Are you OK?’ I don’t think any of us are OK. These are hard times.”

“So, we come together as a community to mourn, to lift each other up, because the pain of the loss that we’ve suffered doesn’t just go away. That’s why it’s important to come together,” he added.

More than 1,100 people filled Adath Israel for the event, gathering to take part in prayer and song.

Beneath the crowd, a powerful exhibit hung in the basement. It featured the stories of those who were in Israel on October 7, 2023.

Speaking about the exhibit, event organizer Dafna Ofer said, “I think this is the most important thing now – to document and to listen to those people. To not forget what happened on October 7th.”

“Last year, at this exact time, we still had hostages held in captivity. The last hostage was released after our event,” Ofer added.

Local rabbis also spoke about the importance of coming together to heal.

Rabbi David Levin, who acts as the president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia, said, “There is an extraordinary turnout from across denominations. From across the political spectrum. None of that stuff matters. We’re all here to remember.”

Rabbi Yanoff echoed that sentiment. He said the night was an opportunity “to stand in love and solidarity with Israelis, with Jews, and Muslims, and Christians. With Arabs, who are citizens of Israel. With those who want peace. And yes, with the Palestinian victims of Hamas as well.”

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