ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis area Jewish community is preparing for a commemoration Monday to honor the lives lost and lift up those being held hostage.
On October 7, 2023, a Hamas terrorist attack on Israel left 1,200 dead and more than 250 held hostage.
“Well, it was 6:30 in the morning, so I remember waking up and my husband saying, Karen, there's a war in Israel, and we were supposed to leave for Israel five days later,” Karen Sher, with the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, said.
Rabbi Chaim Landa said it’s a day no one will forget.
“I still remember where I was when I heard the news. It was on the most joyous day on the Jewish calendar, and it doesn't stop,” Rabbi Landa said.
That attack was the beginning of a war that's been going on for a year now, claiming the lives of thousands of people.
“Everyone knows someone who has lost, and here in St Louis, there's many, many people who have lost family and friends,” Landa said.
And while they honor the lives of the ones they've lost, Sher said it is important to continue to remember those who are still in captivity.
“We need to make sure they are always in our hearts and our minds, and that we will continue to fight for their release— and we won't forget their memories,” Sher said.
Even though the war is going on thousands of miles away, in the U.S., Jews are facing an increase in anti-Semitism.
The Anti-Defamation League reports there have been about 10,000 anti-Semitic incidents in the past year.
Rabbi Landa emphasizes the importance of stomping out hate.
“There's fighting hate, which we have to do, calling out hate, and then there's actively, proactively, intentionally doing good, spreading positivity. And I think if there ever was a time that our world needed that, it is now,” Landa said.
Amidst the trauma, there has also been unity.
“They're finding comfort in community, whether it's through their synagogue or whether it's through just gathering at their home or coming to an event or a program, just being heard is really, really important to know that we need to create spaces for people to share how they're feeling, share their pain, share their struggles,” Sher said.
Landa said finding hope and joy in this time is essential.
“We can be that light, and we should be that light,” he said.
The St. Louis area commemoration event starts at 7 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, you'll need to pre-register through the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.