Members and allies of the Boston Jewish community gathered for prayer, song, dance, laughter, tears and community Oct. 7 during “An Evening of Remembrance and Hope,” an event commemorating the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attacks on Israel. Hosted by nonprofit organization Combined Jewish Philanthropies, or CJP,  the event took place in the Wang Theatre and featured speakers, arts and media performances and traditional prayers to provide support for the Jewish community.

In an interview with The News, Sarah Abramson, executive vice president of CJP, discussed the impact and driving forces of the remembrance event.

“For many in our Jewish community, it still feels like Oct. 7, 2023, like the calendar has not turned a page,” Abramson said. “Our hope tonight was to bring as many people together as possible … who think that being Jewish can bring a lot of meaning and purpose to their lives.” 

In the theater, the first rows were empty, each chair adorned with a sign that read “Bring them home, now,” an act of tribute for the 100 Israeli hostages taken that still remain in the custody of Hamas.

Providing the opening remarks was Rabbi Marc Baker, president and CEO of CJP.

“This is a night of remembrance and hope, but it’s also a night of gratitude for this extraordinary community,” Baker said. “It’s been a year like no other, and we have navigated this trauma together.”

His welcome was followed by a performance of  “Lu Yehi (Let it Be)” by Adi Arbel, a member of the Israel Defence Forces, or IDF, and students from Jewish schools in Boston. The theater then heard an account from Omri Attar, a major in the IDF, who recalled his experience Oct. 7 last year.

“I watched my country and my fellows bleed,”Attar said. He shared how his unit lost 26 members, many of whom he considered family. In his speech, Attar honored all the members of the IDF and the theater responded with a standing ovation.

Bonnie Polin Pomper reflected on the life of her nephew, Hersh Goldberg-Polin. He was killed in late August, almost 11 months after being taken hostage by Hamas. 

Polin Pomper detailed the time she has spent raising awareness across the world and with politicians. 

“Let [Goldberg-Polin’s] name be a memory for revolution, for good,” she said.

Following Polin Pomper’s emotional testimony, members of the greater Boston Jewish Clergy recited memorial prayers, calling on guests to light candles in tribute. “[The Jewish community] lights memorial candles to replenish the light that the departed soul left,” said Jeremy Burton, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council.

Daniel Vaknine, a DJ and survivor from the Nova music festival where the targeted attacks occurred, spoke about how the events have bled into his day-to-day life since Oct. 7, 2023. 

“Those of us who survived carried the weight for what felt like an eternity, and we still carry it today,” Vaknine said. “This is not just a story about survival, it’s about resilience, about refusing to be defined by the worst moments. Together we can ensure that the past doesn’t define the future. We will laugh again. We will play music again and we will dance again.”

New England Patriots’ cheerleader Melissa Joslin then performed a dance to “Hurricane,” a song by popular Israeli artist Eden Golan.

Middle school students from around Boston shared the English translation of the Israeli national anthem, “Hatikvah.” Directly translated, hatikvah means “the hope,” which was the central theme of the program. The Boston area Clergy recited the traditional Hebrew “Hatikvah,” joined by the attendees of the event.

Magda Bader, a Holocaust survivor who was taken to Auschwitz with her three sisters when she was 13, then spoke about her life experiences.

“I always explain how important it is that Israel exists because I believe that Jews can never be safe without Israel,” Bader said. “Hope cannot wait.” 

To close out the  evening, Baker took the stage once more, discussing the hostages still left in Gaza. The sounds of the crowd chanting “bring them home” reverberated through the theater.

“We are stronger in community,” Baker said. “I have been overwhelmed, over this past year, in the spirit of Israel.”

The event came to an end with Oseh Shalom, a prayer for peace, and guests sang, danced and waved miniature Israeli flags to the music. 

In an interview with The News, Vaknine discussed his passion for his country.  Vaknine fought as a combat fighter,his grandparents survived the Holocaust and came to Israel to make a better life for his family. 

“I think that to be proud is Jewish and to be strong. Not about religions, about, that’s my DNA. I’m an Israeli. I’m Jewish … and I’m not going to be scared to show that,” Vaknine said. “It’s not just a story. It’s not just something that you’ve been through, and now you’re talking about. That’s a lifetime of story. That’s a lifetime memory.”