The Jewish community in Tallahassee is marking the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel

October 7 was a sombre night at Temple Israel in Tallahassee as Jews and their allies gathered to remember Hamas’ attack on Israel and honor those lost.

It was the year – or one-year anniversary – of the killings and hostage-taking carried out by Hamas. It was also the week of the High Holidays. Temple Israel hosted Congregation Shomrei Torah and the Tallahassee Jewish Federation.

They sang, cried and prayed.

“May the source of strength bless those before us,” they sang. “Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing and let us say, ‘Amen.”

“As we approach Yom Kippur, let us bookmark the pages of the past year because we will return to them again and again, every minute of every day,” said Joe Gerstenfeld of the Federation. “Indeed, until this war is over and the hostages return home, Jewish history will continue to be written, and we are the ones who will write it. We have no choice but to move forward.”

Three Leon County Sheriff’s Office vans kept the peace in front of the temple.