Long Beach reflects on the year since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack

Just over one year ago, the terrorists struck.

On Oct. 7, 2023, more than 1,200 men, women and children in Israel were killed at the hands of Hamas. More than 250 people were taken hostage, and many of them are still missing. The attacks set off a year of nonstop conflict.

Communities across the country recognized the sobering anniversary on Monday. In Long Beach, residents of all faiths, local clergy and elected officials gathered at Temple Emanu-El to remember, to mourn and to pray together.

“I want to hear God’s voice, but I also want the souls of the hostages who are murdered to hear our voices,” Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft, spiritual leader of the temple, said. “I want them to hear how much we care and that they did not die in vain. I want the families of the hostages to hear our voices, to know that they are supported, that they are loved, that we want them to find comfort in the middle of chaos. I want them to hear our voices so that we give them hope.”

Zanerhaft recalled taking his family to an amusement park, and one frightening hour that day. One second, he was holding his son’s hand. The next, he was gone. Zanerhaft was separated from his son for an hour, and, he said, he could not imagine what the parents who have been separated from family members for a year are feeling.

City Councilman John Bendo recounted a four-month-long trip he took to Egypt some years back, while working as an engineer. A driver was assigned to escort him around, and they began to discuss religion. Bendo didn’t know much about the Muslim faith, so he asked questions, and he learned. What he learned, he said, he kept with him.

He learned that Muslims believe in the same prophets of God as Jews and Christians do. And he realized how similar we all really are.

“If we could just remember what my friend, the driver, in Egypt said, that we all pray to the same God, and that we have more common beliefs than we have differences,” Bendo said. “Can’t that be a basis to have a dialogue, and to expand our understanding and empathy, and to bridge the bonds and maybe even eventually foster peace? Don’t we owe it to the children to advocate for a world where they can grow up without fear, where they can live side by side in harmony, regardless of their backgrounds? For me, I think that is a responsibility we all must share.”

Sam Pinto, president of the Long Beach Board of Education and a member of the city Fire Department, spoke about his nephew, who graduated from Long Beach High School and is now serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Pinto’s brother was visiting Israel last Oct. 7, and was at a family event with his son — Pinto’s nephew.

The nephew lives in a kibbutz, and the one next to it was ransacked. Some of the other residents of his nephew’s kibbutz were on a bike ride, and saw the threat coming their way. They managed to set up a security perimeter to protect the kibbutz.

Pinto’s nephew was subsequently called in to be part of a search-and-rescue team, looking for hostages near Israel’s border with Lebanon. Pinto had the chance to speak to his nephew, and was taken aback — positively — by what he was doing to help.

“We’re rescuing the Palestinians,” his nephew told him. “We’re rescuing the Palestinians from Hamas. There are people there that that want to go into Israel, that want to be rescued, want to be saved, and we’re pulling them out.”

His nephew did that for a few weeks. Then, a few days ago, a drone strike exploded at an Israeli army base. Pinto’s nephew was OK, but two friends he was serving with were killed.

“It’s bittersweet,” Pinto said. “You’re upset because people lost their lives, but you have a sense of relief that your family’s safe. We’re all now praying for miracles. We’re praying for the safe return of the hostages. We’re praying for the safe return of all these soldiers and all the people who were relocated. We’re praying for peace.”

Bishop Mark Moses, of the New Life Church of Christ, spoke of love, unity and peace.

“We stand together united, because an attack on any group is an attack on every group,” Moses said. “Sam talked about his nephew, and that he was surprised at first that his nephew had to go in and bring Palestinians over. That came from love. Because Israel is a nation of love. And even in war, they still show love.”

The night ended with the entire congregation — people of different backgrounds, careers and beliefs — singing the Israeli national anthem.