Members of the University’s Jewish community gathered at the north end of the Main Quad to memorialize those lost and taken hostage one year ago during Hamas’ attack on Israel.
On Oct. 7, 2023, the Islamic militant group Hamas invaded Israel, taking about 250 hostages to Gaza and leaving in their wake around 1,200 deaths. It was but a precipitate of the expanding Israel-Hamas war that now involves several countries and has claimed over 40,000 lives.
“(I’ve been) here for 22 years; this has been the hardest year we’ve had,” said Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel, executive director of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life at the University.
Ezra Landman-Feigelson, junior in FAA, said Monday’s anniversary marks a dark day in contemporary Jewish history.
“Oct. 7, the deadliest day in history for Jews since the Holocaust, is incredibly important to commemorate,” Landman-Feigelson said. “I think back to where I was a year ago today — I remember all the questions running through my mind … and wondering if my family in Israel is okay.”
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Led by various Jewish organizations on campus, including the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, students lit memorial candles and wrote and dedicated mitzvahs or good deeds.
“We have memorial candles for some of the hostages that are still in captivity,” said Ezra Cohen, executive director of Illini Hillel. “One hundred and one hostages are still held in captivity in Gaza, and some of them are actually family members of students here on campus.”
In dedication to a kite festival that would have happened in Israel one year ago, Chabad provided kite-making materials for students to create their own.
“The Israeli village of Kfar Aza used to fly kites every year with messages of peace on them, with the hope that Palestinians in Gaza will read the messages of peace, and we hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” Cohen said.
Cohen said Jewish leaders on campus took it upon themselves to continue the tradition of calling for peace, highlighting that many Jewish students have strong ties, and the events of Oct. 7 directly impacted them.
“I just want to highlight that many of our students are connected to people that either died or were taken hostage,” Cohen said. “Many people have (families) in Israel, and so this directly affects people on our campus. We hope that people remain respectful and thoughtful about that as they interact with our Jewish community.”
In a statement released by the White House, President Joe Biden voiced his administration’s support of Israel, citing a successful United States defense initiative supporting Israel’s fight against Iranian missile attacks.
“One year later, Vice President Harris and I remain fully committed to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist,” Biden said in the release.
As for the 101 hostages left in Gaza, four of which are Israeli-American hostages, their future remains unknown as ceasefire negotiations in Gaza — and Lebanon — have reached a stalemate.
Tiechtel said the attacks on Oct. 7 have yielded acts of antisemitism across the nation, with the FBI reporting in September that crimes against Jewish Americans rose 63% nationwide in 2023 compared to the prior year. However, he said the recent unity in the University’s Jewish population was unparalleled.
“On the one hand, the amount of rising anti-Jewish hate on college campuses across America — it’s like the second front of the war,” Tiechtel said. “At the same time, we are also seeing an unbelievable response of Jewish involvement that I’ve never seen in 21 and a half years.”
Biden also condemned ongoing acts of hate against Jewish Americans in the aforementioned press release, emphasizing the nation must be a united front in combating antisemitism.
Landman-Feigelson said this year has brought about new fears regarding his belief system.
“Coming back to campus this semester, I had a lot of concerns that I never would have thought I would have a year ago, socially,” Landman-Feigelson said. “I don’t know if there are people that don’t want to speak with me purely because of my identity and religious beliefs, whereas a year ago, I didn’t think that would be an issue.”
Tiechtel hopes to bring not only Jewish students together but also the campus community.
“I think our job is to empower students not to be afraid,” Tiechtel said. “I’m heart warmed by the hundreds of students that came out today … This community and unity is what we need in today’s times.”
