The Consulate General of Israel in New York and the Israeli-American Council (IAC) hosted a memorial ceremony to mark the somber milestone of one year following the Hamas massacre of October 7th, 2023. Held following Simchat Torah – the Jewish holiday whose Hebrew date marked the attacks – the event at Manhattan was attended by over 600 guests.
“We are fighting our enemies – who are the whole world’s enemies – on seven fronts. We are not giving up or slowing down. We will defend our people – from Tehran to Yemen, From Rafah to Beirut,” said Ambassador Ofir Akunis, Consul General of Israel in New York. “We saw this in action just three days ago. We sent a clear message: do not test us. And we are seeing signs of change: signs of a new Middle East. At its center is a strong Israel, who fights against international terror. This new Middle East – without Nasrallah, without Sinwar – is a much better place.” Amb. Akunis concluded by calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages: “The international community must put Hamas under pressure to release them all, and until then, must support Israel in its battle for justice!”
“Although this year has been one of devastating tragedy, the Jewish people have extracted from the blood, the death and the ash of October 7th a most powerful force: Jewish unity,” said Elan Carr, CEO of the Israeli-American Council (IAC). “And while it is not perfect—we know there is much more work to do – the Jewish family across the world is today more connected, more united, more determined and more focused than ever before in my lifetime. It is through such unity that we will pay proper tribute to our victims and our heroes, and it is through such unity that we will win.”
Mia Schem, a young woman who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th from the Nova Music Festival, addressed the gathering: “A year has passed. My body is here, but my innocence remains in the fields of blood, and my heart remains captive in Gaza with those five young women still held there – abused and exploited, without air, in the depths of hell. Today, I stand before you. I am no longer a girl. I am a strong woman – who won’t rest until every single hostage is brought back from the depths of hell.”
Bereaved families attended and addressed the assembly. Ayelet Samerano, whose son Jonathan was murdered and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists – who were also UNRWA workers – stated: “My son is in exile. Our hostages are there. It’s been a whole year that I have been waiting for good news. I have no day. I have no night. I have no knowledge. I have only faith and prayer. My Yonti – and 100 other hostages – are waiting to your salvation.”
Avi Harush, father of the late Sergeant Rif Harush – who fell fighting Hamas in Gaza – addressed the event: “In these difficult days that we, as a people and as a nation – are going through – I think it would be good for us to see the virtues of each and every one of our friends, rather than their shortcomings, and to let no hatred arise between us. The people of Israel, especially now must be united.”
Along with the Consulate and IAC, partners included Israel’s Ministry of Defense, and the La’Aretz Foundation. “We stand united as one people. As we continue to recover and defend our nation as one, we do so not as individuals, but together,” said Shelly Pitman, founder and CEO of La'Aretz Foundation in a statement. “We will continue to honor the memory of those we lost by forging a future grounded in unity and resilience, at moments that matter.”
Dignitaries included Consuls General from ten nations, and prominent leaders of the American Jewish community. Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Senior Rabbi of Park East Synagogue, addressed the event, and Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, the synagogue’s cantor, sang a prayer for the welfare of the State of Israel. Israeli singer Yagel Oshri, whose music rose to prominence to unify Israel following October 7th, performed three rousing songs.
The ceremony was complemented by a photography exhibition entitled “Our Hope Lives On: In the Eyes of Heroes,” depicting and honoring Israel’s reservist soldiers – the men and women who stepped forward to protect and defend their homeland during one of its most critical moments.
