October 7, 2024
The Central Conference of American Rabbis marks the first anniversary of Hamas’s barbaric October 7 massacre. On that bitter day, Hamas murdered twelve hundred Israelis and foreign nationals living among them, and took hundreds more into brutal captivity. The year that has passed since last October 7 has been one of grief and resolve. We have experienced fear for the well-being of our people in Israel and horror at the growing antisemitism in North America and around the world.
Throughout the last year, we have also been inspired by the Israeli spirit, as untold thousands of ordinary citizens responded to their country’s needs. Israelis have served in the Israel Defense Forces during this time of war, while their loved ones worried and persevered at home. They have mobilized to meet the needs of over one hundred thousand of their fellow citizens who are displaced from their homes. They have volunteered in fields and hothouses to ensure Israel’s food security at a time when many agricultural workers became suddenly unavailable. They took to the streets and raised their voices in support of a deal liberating the hostages.
While we hold on to these moments of hope and resolve, we also grieve that Israelis—Jews, Arabs, Bedouin, Druze, and others in their midst—have endured repeated bombardments from a horrifying array of terrorist forces, all backed, led, and supplied by Iran. Israelis have hurried to their safe rooms and bomb shelters as sirens blared and rockets, drones, and missiles streaked overhead. These weapons of war have been fired by Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and the Iranian regime itself. Meanwhile, much of the world has vilified Israel.
And we grieve as well the loss of thousands of innocent people caught in the crossfire, who despite all efforts, perished in the horrible consequences of a war Israel did not choose, in battles we wish Israel did not have to wage.
Reform rabbis worldwide stand in awe of our Israeli colleagues, CCAR rabbis who are also members of MARAM, the Council of Israeli Reform Rabbis. They have been on the front lines—some of them literally, serving in the reserves or sending their children to serve; all of them, caring for their communities and their nation. MARAM members, some of them displaced from their homes and all grieving unspeakable personal losses, have traveled the length and breadth of Israel to provide spiritual comfort, raise their prophetic voices, and sustain hope.
Throughout the diaspora, CCAR rabbis have led their communities through the challenges of confronting Israel’s existential crisis with sensitivity and compassion. We have raised our voices in diverse ways. We have faced antisemitism, and we have combated it. We have provided sorely needed Israel education, within and beyond Jewish communities. We have sought to provide the words, in poetry and prose, in worship, and in countless hours of counseling, to help ease the spiritual wounds our people have suffered. Some of us serve on college and university campuses, providing a haven and solace to Jewish students, faculty, and staff under siege. Many CCAR rabbis have traveled to Israel during this difficult year—demonstrating solidarity, learning with and supporting our Israeli colleagues, bearing witness to the horror, and providing valuable volunteer service.
In the days leading up to this tragic anniversary, as we prepared to observe Rosh HaShanah, our people in Israel suffered unprecedented ballistic missile attacks from Iran. We sadly acknowledge that this time of war and terror will extend well into the new year. The Central Conference of America Rabbis will continue to be here, standing by the people of Israel at the most difficult of times, even as we yearn to celebrate together in better days to come.
Rabbi Erica Asch, President
Rabbi Hara E. Person, Chief Executive
Central Conference of American Rabbis