BY Lauren McCutcheon
Oct. 04, 2024
October 7, 2023 was the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. October 6 and October 7, 2024, are days for Philadelphians to honor those who died, those taken hostage, and those who began a journey of suffering one year ago. May their memories be a blessing. May the world one day achieve peace.
Here, some ways to honor the day:
ATTEND A MEMORIAL AND VIGIL. On October 6 at 5pm, 365 Days of Hope pays spiritual homage to the more than 1,100 human lives lost on October 7, 2023. The gathering includes speech-making, a joint clergy memorial service, a shofar blast, calls to action, homemade lanterns and the reading of the victims’ and hostages’ names while the Jewish chorale of Greater Philadelphia Nashirah performs a world premiere of the song “October Rain.” Guests are asked to wear yellow, the color of remembrance. Location revealed upon reservation.
Figure: Screen shot from the film War Diary
BEAR WITNESS TO HISTORY, THROUGH PHOTOS AND SOUND. The Weitzman Museum opens its concourse on October 7 from 10am to 5pm for A Visual and Sound Journey from ANU Museum, an exhibition of journalists’ photographs documenting the events of one year ago and their aftermath, set to The Pain Front, a healing soundtrack created by Israeli musicians. 101 S. Independence Mall East
HONOR BOTH JEWISH AND MUSLIM LIVES. Every Life, A Universe has planned a tashlich, a Jewish ritual that symbolizes the casting off of sins from the previous year, on October 7 from 6 to 8pm. The ceremony will honor the memories of the people who died in Israel on October 7 and the thousands more who’ve died in Palestine, Israel and Lebanon in the ensuing violence, while calling for a peaceful end to the suffering. 640 Waterworks Drive
Figure: Photo by Thomas Bormans on Unsplash
TAKE PART IN A VIRTUAL PRAYER VIGIL. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and Board of Rabbis invite everyone to Zoom in for an at-home service of “prayer, mourning and messages of hope” on October 7 at 7pm. Online
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has planned a day of remembrance to coincide with Israel’s official such day, at Har Zion Temple on the Main Line on October 27 from 1:30 to 3pm. Register to attend by October 21. 1500 Hagys Ford Road, Penn Valley
REFLECTIONS OF A YEAR AT WAR
Ideas We Should Steal Festival
Real Estate Development for Good
Civic Health with Connor Barwin
Criminal Justice with Malcolm Jenkins
