When Rabbi Caryn Broitman woke up Monday morning, she said she felt numb and spent the day weeping.
Monday, October 7 was the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, when militants crossed the border and killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostages. Many say it was the most deadly attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust.
On Monday evening Rabbi Broitman held a service of remembrance at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center to mourn the deaths and pray for the safe return of hostages, and for peace in the region.
“I feel so appreciative to have a community of people all across the Island that we can mourn together,” Rabbi Broitman said at the start of the service.
Throughout the event seven candles were lit, each representing different themes such as pain, grief, courage, peace and hope. One candle was dedicated to the families of the hostages.
Five members of the Island clergy were asked to light the candles. Rev. Cathlin Baker of the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury lit the first candle and sat beside pastor Woody Bowman who lit the sixth. Rev. Stephen Harding and his wife, Storm, of Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven also lit candles, as did pastor Leo Christian from the Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven and Rabbi Brian Walt.
Dr. Robert Herman and his wife Madeline Way of the Hebrew Center lit a candle, and Bob Tankard, a member of the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven and the veterans outreach coordinator for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, lit the third candle which symbolized courage.
“No matter what our nationality is, what our religion is or our faith is, we need to support one another,” Mr. Tankard said. “When we do that, then we’re united and we become stronger.”
Rabbi Broitman led the participants in several prayers and songs, including Achienu, a prayer that calls for the release of captives that has been recited by Jewish people for over 1,000 years.
They also recited an adaptation of El Malei Rachamim, written by Rabbi Sharon Cohen Ainsfeld in memory of all who died on October 7 and its aftermath.
“Grant perfect rest beneath the wings of your presence to the precious innocent souls — Israeli and Palestinian, Jewish and Muslim, Christian, Bedouin and Druze, migrant workers from around the world — who have lost their lives to the ravages of war during the past year,” the adaptation said.
The service concluded with the words to I Believe In The Sun that was put to music by Mark Miller. Rabbi Broitman said the inscription was written by Jewish prisoners on the walls of the Gestapo prison in Germany before they were sent to a concentration camp.
“I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining. I believe in love, even when I don’t feel it. I believe in God, even when God is silent,” Rabbi Broitman read.
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