On Monday, October 7th, Hebrew Academy held a memorial service to mark the one-year anniversary of the ongoing war in Israel, honoring those affected and creating a space for reflection and remembrance.
The memorial began in the gym where the high school, middle school, and fourth and fifth grade students gathered together in unity to say tefillot, including Tehillim for the hostages, soldiers, and those impacted by the conflict. Members of the Hebrew Academy family directly affected by the war, such as rabbis who were called back to the IDF, led specific tefillot.
Chairs were arranged throughout the center of the gym for the 101 hostages still cruelly held in Gaza, reminding us of their absence. One of the chairs was a high chair for infant hostage Kfir Bibas.
“The memorial to me was a really special, emotional and important moment, gathering our school as we got together as one to pray for our people,” shared William Duda (10th).
After the assembly concluded, the middle and elementary school students were dismissed, while the high school students transitioned and were split into ten different groups. Each group rotated through rooms which were transformed into ten distinct exhibits. The high school seniors curated these museum-like experiences and presented them to each group. These exhibits represented ten different aspects of the war, such as heroes, displaced families, and Iran and its proxies.
One notable exhibit was the Hostage Square room. The students entered through a tunnel, representative of the tunnel where the hostages are being kept. They were greeted by long tables set with tablecloths, along which were missing posters of hostages to give the groups a feel of what the hostage square in Israel is like. The groups recited Tehillim, deepening their connection to the hostages. The groups were then given hostage necklaces and pins to wear on their way out.
“I think Hostage Square was an important exhibit because not only did it show important clips and make us feel like we were there, but I also learned more about October 7th. I felt connected to the hostages, and we need them to be brought home,” said Rebecca Edelglass (11th).
Another impactful exhibit was the Nova Festival room. This room was designed to mimic the Nova Music Festival of October 7th, 2023, before and after the tragedy struck. Upon entering the room, the groups were invited to dance and celebrate, immersing themselves in the party that took place at the Nova Festival. Suddenly, students were told to get on the ground and put their hands on their heads, mirroring the October 7th terrorists’ demands to attendees of the festival. Finally, students watched a powerful video of victims' experiences of the attack.
“The Nova room—wow, they set it up exactly how it happened with the strobe lights and sirens. Everyone ran around trying to hide. The room was super impactful in showing everyone what happened at the festival. This room helped me understand what really happened and gave me a clear picture of it,” reflected Emma Schottenstein (9th).
The memorial and exhibits at Hebrew Academy served as both an incredible way to honor hostages, soldiers, Israeli citizens, and all of Am Israel. The first anniversary of October 7th was a stark reminder of the impact of the day over this past painful year.
The meaningful day brought students across grades together, strengthening their bond with one another and with Am Yisrael.
By: Adina Shagalov (10th)
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