About 50 people from multiple faiths joined Chabad on the Vineyard Monday to hold a vigil for the Israelis who died in the Hamas attack earlier this month.
Rabbi Tzvi Alperowitz, who founded the Vineyard Haven Chabad house in 2021, told attendees that they had gathered to mourn the more than 1,350 Jews who had died and families that had been kidnapped.
The program listed names of hostages to pray for and attendees eulogized children who were reportedly killed by Hamas.
“These brutal acts committed by the Hamas terrorists invading homes and ruthlessly murdering the innocent shake us to our core,” the rabbi said. “The inhumanity displayed are images we will never be able to forget.”
The event, which lasted about an hour, drew several speakers, including state Sen. Julian Cyr, Vineyard Haven town administrator John Grande, a representative from U.S. Rep. William Keating’s office, Rabbi Caryn Broitman from the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center and national Jewish activist Betsy Sheerr.
“We come together because however difficult something like this is, it’s much harder to go through it on your own,” Rabbi Alperowitz said.
Over the weekend, Rabbi Broitman led a prayer service at the Hebrew Center and prayed for world leaders to have the wisdom to make decisions that lead to true safety for all in the region.
“Isaiah says we must believe that there is a way out of no way,” she said at Monday’s vigil. “So may our faith and God help us to see that way, to make that way out of hatred toward compassion. May we not let the hate and the violence and the godlessness of the few close our hearts to the many.”
People often held back tears throughout the vigil, and told stories of loved ones and other connections in Israel.
Mr. Grande noted that the Island has a tradition of coming together to support people in the community who are in distress.
“We come together this evening to share in collective sorrow for the families that have suffered such irreparable devastating loss,” he said. “We are here to assure those families and all the families of Israel that we care and are here to provide you with our unconditional support.”
Ms. Sheerr went a step further and listed steps she thought people should take to help Israelis.
First, people “should reach out and speak out,” she said. She called on people to reach out to people in Israel and tell them they are supported, while also sharing their stories far and wide. Second, she urged people to open their hearts and wallets to support organizations in the effort. And lastly, she said it is the sacred duty of Americans to be involved in their democracy.
“We will grieve when we must, and celebrate when we can,” she said. “But let’s keep trying individually and together. We can help extinguish the darkness of these days with a light of education and good deeds.”
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