Carla Mendez | Staff Writer
In an afternoon of remembrance, Hillel at FIU, in collaboration with Chabad on campus and Students Supporting Israel (SSI), organized a vigil on campus to mourn the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel.
The event drew students, faculty, and members of the Jewish community to honor the victims of the attack and reflect on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
A year ago, on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an assault on Israel, leading to 1,200 deaths and hundreds of hostages taken. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated aerial campaigns and ground operations within the Gaza Strip. The vigil began with an opening prayer, followed by remarks from Jon Warech, the executive director of Hillel at FIU.
“It’s not over, it’s not something that just happened a year ago today, it’s something that is still ongoing, and that hurts,” Warech shared. “I think I’ve changed as a person, and as a Jew.”
Warech reflected on the resilience of the Jewish people and the importance of community in facing such challenges.
“I think about what our responsibility is and what we’re supposed to do next. How we handle this as Jewish people defines who we are for future generations. The Jewish people survive, every time. Whether you decide you want to protest or you’re someone who wants to be with friends and family on the holidays, all of it comes together to create a stronger Jewish community.”
The vigil featured a diverse group of speakers, including Shilo Shobat, a soldier from the IDF’s Canine Unit who was injured on post last year. Shobat recounted his harrowing experience on October 7, 2023, sharing the moment when he first realized the severity of the situation.
“I was with Jaspher, my dog, in the unit. I live near Gaza, and it was around 1 a.m. when I heard the sirens,” said Shobat. “I left Jaspher in his kennel and went to find my friends, who showed me videos of the terrors happening. I understood the situation was very bad. Jaspher wasn’t ready for combat yet, but my friend and I went in. We saw horrible things. Terrorists don’t come to fight; they come to destroy our land and our civilians.”
Shobat described the difficult and surreal conditions in Gaza. “Everything in Gaza was different—the smell, the civilians. They tried to shoot at us, and that was hard to see because I went to Gaza to protect them from Hamas. It was strange to see how much hate they have for us.”
Shobat recalled the moment he was injured. “In a split second, there was an explosion from an RPG behind me. I fell because of the blast wave, and I remember everyone screaming. Everyone started to run.”
The event also featured words from Dan Szmuler, Vice President of Hillel, who addressed the emotional toll the attack has taken on the global Jewish community. He emphasized the continued impact of the event on Israeli society and the importance of remembering the hostages still held by Hamas.
“This day is not just another day on the calendar; it is the day our world turned upside down,” Szmuler said. “A year ago today, Hamas broke into the nation of Israel. Of these hostages, 101 still remain under the barbaric captivity of Hamas.”
Szmuler expressed the guilt he carries from the event. “Oct. 7 changed all of our lives. I felt guilty. How was it possible that I was okay, thousands of miles away, while my people were at war?”
One student activist shared her deeply personal and moving story, revealing that her friend is among the 101 captives still held in Gaza. She expressed her views on the broader implications of the conflict, stating, “The truth is that we all want Gaza to be free, but free from Hamas—not from Israel. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people; it represents terror.”
Her words echoed a sentiment of both hope and frustration, as she emphasized the importance of distinguishing between the Palestinian people and Hamas.
The event provided a space for collective grief, remembrance, and a reaffirmation of the resilience and solidarity that unite the Jewish community.
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