Prayer for the first anniversary of the Hamas attack

On the one-year anniversary of the attack on October 7, 2023, there were prayers and a film showing the lives of a family of survivors at Temple Beth El in Springfield.
Reminder Publishing photo by G. Michael Dobbs

SPRINGFIELD — On Oct. 7, a nearly full group of worshipers filled the sanctuary at Temple Beth El to mark the first year since Hamas terrorists killed and kidnapped Israelis, the action that sparked the current war.

The congregation has long displayed photos of the victims outside the synagogue on Dickinson Street.

Rabbi Amy Wallk, who led the program, said prayer helped her cope with the events of the past year. “Last year it was so hard to pray, but I still stuck to my prayers.”

One of the prayers she used was “an old prayer for people in need.” The prayer said by the congregation is: “As for our brothers and sisters, all the house of Israel, who are in distress or captivity, whether they remain at sea or on dry land.” May the Almighty have mercy be with them and lead them now, quickly and in the near future, from distress to magnification, from darkness to light, and from subjection to salvation. Amen.”

Wallk said the prayer “calmed my soul.” She added: “This is not the first generation whose brothers and sisters are in need.”

Although the current state of the conflict – the lack of a ceasefire – was not directly mentioned, Wallk spoke of the need for hope. “We have to embrace hope,” she said.

She described hope as “a thin thread” that connects people.

The film “Beyond Oct. 7” shown. In her one-hour production, director Jasmine Kainy follows three generations of the Gad family who lived and worked on Kibbutz Be’eri. It begins just three days after the October 7 attack and shows how difficult it is for family members to survive the events.

The film shows the many emotions and coping mechanisms the survivors must use to survive the attack. It unobtrusively shows the effects of war on a family.

Production began with cell phone video captured by a family member from the safe room of their home. We hear their conversations, interrupted by the sounds of automatic gunfire.

A family member told the director that 90 people had been killed and 30 had been kidnapped in their community.

Throughout the film, family members staying in a nearby hotel try to deal with their grief and loss while maintaining a normal family life. A family member goes back home to get clothes and other items. He sees the devastation in his community and notices which of his neighbors have been murdered.

The same man goes back to work and seems to be looking forward to some element of normal activity.

Another family member expresses frustration at her repeating her story to various news outlets around the world, but continues to tell what happened.

The film shows how uncertain the family members are about their future.
You can find an excerpt from the film at vimeo.com/986113536.