Hundreds of students gathered on Krentzman Quad Oct. 7 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attacks on Israel that left approximately 1,200 people dead and more than 250 held hostage by the Islamic, Palestinian nationalist militant group.  

The tone of the night was emotional, with many students leaning on each other for support. Above the crowd, the United States flag on Ell Hall flew at half mast, commemorating the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.   

“As a year passes, we remember the fullness of each life that was lived,” said Rabbi and Executive Director of Northeastern Hillel Sara Paasche-Orlow. “The gifts each person gave to their families and friends, and that it is up to us to help build a world where once again we can have joy and the warmth of community without fear and without terror. And so we move through the grief and gather ourselves. We know that we are a resilient people.”

The vigil, organized by Hillel, offered a “moment for the Jewish community to come together to reflect on this past year,” according to the event description. Students gathered around the podium wrapped in Israeli flags, carrying yellow flowers with papers of the names of hostages attached and wearing metal tag necklaces engraved with “Bring Them Home” in both Hebrew and English. 

Oct. 7 marked the first anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war, which Israel declared the same day Hamas militants attacked southern Israel. As the war rages into its second year, more than 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in strikes by Israel, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The conflict has only escalated as Israel’s tensions with Lebanon and Iran continue to heighten.

The vigil aimed to give space for students to grieve openly and speak amongst each other about their experiences since Oct. 7. Speakers reflected on the past year, opening up about their grief and anger. 

The vigil included remarks from students and rabbis and featured religious songs and readings, including Mourner’s Kaddish, Mi Shebeirach and El Maleh Rachamim. Community members also chanted “bring them home,” referencing the 101 Israeli hostages that remain in Hamas captivity, including four hostages taken in 2014 and 2015.

While reflecting on the past year, Rabbi Mendy Posner, who serves as the director of Chabad at Northeastern, expressed anger at the global response to the attacks. 

“Chants for ‘globalizing Intifada.’ Calls for the destruction of Israel. False accusations of genocide,” Posner said. “Right in our faces. It hurt. So much pain.” 

Students took turns reading the names and ages of the 101 hostages who remain in captivity and held a moment of silence for Israelis who lost their lives Oct. 7, 2023. 

Many attendees told personal stories about the significance of the anniversary. 

“I texted all my friends who live [in Israel] today, every single one of which has lost multiple friends, either on Oct. 7 or since then, given that we’re all of military age,” said Daniel Dalzell, a fifth-year environmental and sustainability sciences and economics combined major who is originally from Israel. “That just means so many people lost their lives, so many people have been taken hostage.” 

Dalzell was wrapped in an Israeli flag as he spoke about a family friend, an Israeli soldier who recently served in the ground invasion of Lebanon. 

“Three days ago he actually got shot in the head, and is currently, I think at this second, undergoing surgery,” Dalzell said. 

Isabel Kaplanovich, a third-year behavioral neuroscience major who has family in Israel, mourned the anniversary on a personal level as well. 

“I was in Israel a month before [Oct. 7]. It could have been any one of us and it’s honestly just luck that we were wherever we were,” Kaplanovich said. 

Posner said that this past year has been a time when Jewish people had to come together as a community. “We have all grown tremendously and we must continue to write chapter after chapter of continued open Jewish pride and support of Israel,” he said. 

Dalzell said he hopes people continue to commemorate those lost and harmed in the Oct. 7 attacks. 

“I’m here because I believe in our family and our courage and our perseverance and I believe in not forgetting, and not being complicit,” Kaplanovich said. “I’m here because when I look around I see all my brothers and my sisters and, to me, Israel is our homeland and not being able to go home or fearing every day for your home is dehumanizing, and it’s terrifying.”