Brandeis Hebrew Academy commemorates one year since Hamas attack

On Oct. 7 2023, Hamas terrorists killed 860 civilians, 578 soldiers and first responders. They abducted 251 people as hostages and 101 are still being held captive in Gaza, according to the students at Brandeis Hebrew Academy.

The Lawrence school held a ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of Hamas attacking Israel and the Nova Festival.

Fifth to eighth graders attended the service, which started with a middle school Minyan, or a group of 10 people required for prayer, and the eighth grade students led the rest of the program.

Students spoke and sung in Hebrew along with some explanations in English.

Hagit Genosar, teacher at Brandeis led the crowd in the Yizkor prayer. Yizkor is a memorial prayer for those who have died.

As the students spoke, Avner Vider, a Brandeis parent, lit a memorial candle.

Rabbi Reuven Khaskin, school Rabbi at Brandeis sung the prayer for the soldiers and for healing.

The students shared how with the one year passed, the people of Israel live their daily lives but without emotion.

“We remind our brothers and sisters in Israel that we are there with them, frightened but full of hope, we are right there with them,” Aviv Shabtay, a Brandeis student, said.

There was not a dry eye in the room after the students led an emotional Hebrew song.

They prayed for the safe return of all hostages and a full recovery for all who are wounded, along with singing a prayer for peace in the state of Israel.

Assemblyman Ari Brown, who is currently up for re-election of the 20th district, spoke to the students and expressed how times have change but terrorism doesn’t.

“I remember when the Israeli Olympic team were killed by terrorists in Munich, Germany, they came out of nowhere and kill people randomly,” Brown said. “They are full of crazy ideologies.”

Both Brown’s mother and grandmother survived the Holocaust, and he remembers hearing their stories, first-hand.

He urged the students to take a stand for what is going on in Israel and to make their voice heard.

“This is your moment, you’re this generation that’s going to make a difference,” Brown said. “Take action and see what you can do.”

Raz Levin, head of school at Brandeis, ended the ceremony by leading Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, after sharing some parting words and wisdom.

“We need to celebrate life, we need to support one another, we need to be together for the sake of our kids,” Levin said.