On October 7, 2023, the terrorist organization Hamas launched the most destructive attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, raping and assaulting innocent people, killing over 1,200 Israelis, and taking 240 civilian hostages. These events were a stark reminder to Jews all across the world that the Jewish people are persistently oppressed in every generation. Before the events of October 7th, antisemitism had seemed to subside, and the Jewish people were thriving in society; from winning Nobel Prizes to creating groundbreaking technologies, and more. However, since October 7th, it has become clear that antisemitism is rampant around the world. The Jewish community has been forced to watch society support terrorists instead of the only democracy in the Middle East. Now more than ever, it is the time for the Jewish community to prove its pattern of unification in times of distress and oppression.
This sentiment made the October 7th program at Posnack School meaningful for students. Instead of a typical day of classes, students began the morning by gathering around the flagpole, singing songs and prayers, as one Jewish school and community. They then proceeded to the gym, where speakers discussed their connection to October 7th and how it affected their lives. Students even heard from IDF soldiers who had served in the war. For the rest of the day, each class completed a small task to commemorate October 7th, organized by the Holocaust Awareness Club. Mrs. Furer, the teacher advisor for the Holocaust Awareness Club, mentioned how the club “made sure that our ideas related to everyone but also made the ability for everyone to be able to connect at their level, whether it was in the classroom, or with the Shabbat table, or the speakers.” The program allowed everyone to unite as one nation, but reflect individually. Mrs. Furer also elaborated on the heightened importance of the club after the events of October 7th, explaining that “The Holocaust has always been something that the kids can’t relate to; it’s far, so they remember the grandparents or survivors. But this time, they saw it happening in real-time, so that makes a big difference.” While most memorials and programs revolve around historical events that students have learned about, the October 7th program encompasses an event that all students lived through, making it even more personal.
As a sentimental contribution to Israel, the entire school gathered outside and witnessed the planting of an olive tree. When asked what he thought about the significance of the olive tree, Rabbi Shlomi Cohen responded, “We wanted to have something that honored those who lost their lives, that actively pledged for unwavering support and allegiance towards Israel, that one Jewish homeland. What better way than to plant a tree? Trees bear fruits, and we all need to be fruit-bearing people”. He added that the tree was a “lifelong connection to our Jewish roots.” The events of October 7, 2023, were the beginning of a long and horrible tirade of antisemitism, terrorism, and loss. However, the wave of international Jewish unity in response to those events embodies how the Jewish people have always been able to overcome obstacles and will continue to do so as a strong community.
