More than 200 people attended a candlelight vigil and rally for Israel at MacDonald Park in Forest Hills on Monday, October 9, quickly organized by a former candidate for public office and a lawyer, Ethan Felder, who said that Hamas’ attack on Israel “was an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that bind us together.”
“Israel and Israelis won’t be terrorized into submission,” said Felder. “Resilience and strength are the essence of the Israeli people. Everyone in Israel and some in our communities “know someone who has been impacted.”
We must never forget the individual victim. One family lost three generations in the Hamas attack on 10/7. Vivian Silverberg, a Canadian who made aliyah, a peace activist between Israelis and Palestinians, was kidnapped into Gaza, said Felder.
Rabbi Mark Kaiserman of The Reform Temple of Forest Hills said that the world often castigates Israel, “but no true human being can justify these attacks.”
“We are created in the image of G-d. Hamas doesn’t value any Israeli, or any Jew, or any supporter of freedom, or even their own people as in the image of G-d.”
Rabbi Judah Kerbel of the Queens Jewish Center said that Israel had irreconcilable differences recently about judicial reform but is now united. “The terrorists didn’t distinguish between Left and Right. The country is serving together.”
Rabbi Daniel Graber of the Forest Hills Jewish Center said that the barbarism of the Hamas attacks “will take years to heal, if ever.”
“Our fight is against the voices of our fellow New Yorkers who want to make an equivalence between the evil that was committed and the response to that evil.”
Rabbi David Algaze of Havurat Yisrael said Palestinians in Gaza were celebrating “such a demonstration of inhumanity.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres asked Israel “to obey the rules of war.” “Who invented the rules of war?” asked Rabbi Algaze. The Americans who bombed German cities during World War II? The Russians? Ukraine? Israel needs to wage war to “terminate the enemy.”
Attendees sang Avinu SheBaShamayim (Our Father in Heaven) for the peace and protection of Israel, the Israeli national anthem (the HaTikvah), and “Oseh Shalom” (G-d make peace).
Marla Korr came “to show solidarity with the people of Israel.” “The images are horrific.” Coming to the vigil made her feel “less alone, more connected.”
Afterward, rabbis of four different congregations in Forest Hills, and about 80 participants, said T’hilim and prayers. Rabbi David Algaze of Congregation Havurat Yisrael, where the event was held, did not want speeches, only “heartfelt prayers.”
Rabbi Algaze chose T’hilim 94 because “G-d of vengeance,” “how long shall the wicked exult?” Psalm 120: “I am for peace but when they speak, they are for war.”
Rabbi Judah Kerbel of the Queens Jewish Center chose T’hilim 121: “Hashem is the Guardian of Israel.” T’hilim 122 “speaks of Jewish unity and the peace of Yerushalayim. He finished with T’hilim 130.
Rabbi Elisha Friedman of the Young of Forest Hills chose T’hilim, 83, 142, and 143.
Rabbi Yossi Mendelson of Congregation Machane Chodosh chose T’hilim 35: “G-d fight my adversaries, do battle for me.” T’hilim 129: “Much they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.” T’hilim 13: “Let G-d save us lest my enemies boast.”
A prayer for the Israeli soldiers and for “The Guardian of Israel” closed out the evening.
