JCCNS commemorates Oct. 7 attack

MARBLEHEAD —The Jewish Community Center of the North Shore commemorated the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas on Monday at Temple Sinai.

The ceremony began with words from Temple Sinai Rabbi Michael Schwartz.

“We begin our remembrance ceremony this evening on the first anniversary of that cursed day, 7th of October, 2023,” Schwartz said. He said a Yahrzeit candle would be lit in remembrance of the 1,175 people who died.

“Israelis, and foreign citizens, civilians, soldiers, police, men, women, children, the young, the elderly — we hold them all and their families in our hearts,” he added.

“Our minds struggle, even one year later, to process what happened that day. To grasp so much horror and loss,” Schwartz said. “The human soul is not designed to hold so much loss.”

Schwartz then played a slideshow of pictures of those who died.

Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore Marty Schneer also spoke.

“How do we remember, while we remain so focused, still, on the continuation of that horrific day, October 7?” Schneer asked. “We are here tonight to remember, and grieve together as a community…we are here to cry together. And also find strength by being together…to pray for peace.”

Rabbi Jenn Mangold of Temple Emanu-El said it is a universal experience among many of those grieving the attack to be asked how they are, and to not know how to respond.

“Not even knowing where to begin trying to express what we are feeling and going through and worse, too often, not being asked at all,” Mangold said prior to reading a poem expressing similar sentiments.

Director and founder of Chabad of the North Shore Rabbi Yossi Lipsker said  “nobody will ever forget how we came together.”

Amy Gold, head of school at Epstein Hillel School shared words from Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was killed.

I will now have to learn to be in this world without him,” Gold read. “But having him all the years I did is worth the pain.”

“There’s a war going on,” said Yotam Dagan, who served in the Israel Defense Forces, him and his wife, Iris, having two of their four children serving on the border of Lebanon. “That war is also happening here on college and university campuses, demonstrations, rallies, and our mission needs to continue building a bridge between our people in Israel, and the people of Israel who are here,” he said, prior to leading attendees in prayer for the Israeli soldiers.

The event concluded with attendees joining in prayer for the departed, “ El Maleh Rahamim,” followed by the Israel National Anthem.

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