A year after attack on Israel: Pain, hope, anger, resolve at valley memorials
Midbar Kodesh Temple was so full on Monday evening that many people had to find parking along neighboring streets.
A year after the deadliest attack in Israeli history on Oct. 7, 2023, the Las Vegas community came together to remember the 1,200 people killed and 250 people taken hostage. “Marking one year” at Midbar Kodesh Temple in Henderson featured speakers from within the Jewish community and allies, songs and a candle-lighting ceremony.
CEO of Jewish Nevada Stefanie Tuzman told the Review-Journal that seeing the nearly 600 people in attendance at the event — both Jewish people and allies — made her feel hopeful and supported.
The anniversary lies between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when Jewish people are called upon to reflect on the year and their community. This year, Tuzman said, that reflection is all the more painful.
Elliot Malamet, a longtime Jewish ethics teacher, called on the Jewish community to educate themselves about Israel and protect themselves.
The attack, he said, was not “unthinkable” or “unimaginable,” like some call it.
“Somebody thought it. Somebody planned it. And somebody carried it out,” Malamet said.
While he was glad to see how many people had connected with their Judaism more since the tragedy, he also described a sense of uneasiness in letting the tragedy define people’s relationship to the religion.
“Do not identify by who wants to kill you. Identify by how you want to live as a Jew,” Malamet said.
The crowd applauded and waved Israeli flags.
Politicians pledge support
Jolie Brislin, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, thanked the several elected officials present at the event.
“This is a room of strength,” Brislin said. “If only the Jewish community were here, we would be failing.”
She also referenced the rising antisemitism in the United States since the attack.
ADL counted a total of 8,873 antisemitic incidents in 2023 — a 140 percent increase from the prior year and the highest number on record since ADL began tracking such data in 1979.
Sen. Jacky Rosen, former president of Congregation Ner Tamid, called herself one of the most pro-Israel senators.
“Israel lives in the heart of all Jewish people,” Rosen told the crowd.
She pledged that as long as she was in the U.S. Senate, she would block every effort to impede or condition aid to Israel.
Congresswomen Susie Lee and Dina Titus also expressed their support for Israel.
“When Israel responds, that is not terrorism, that is self-defense,” Lee told the crowd.
Titus referred to Israel as “our dearest ally.”
In the year since the attack, Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The conflict has expanded beyond Gaza as well. Israel is fighting the terrorist group Hezbollah, carrying out a series of airstrikes in Beirut on the coast of Lebanon and was the target of Iranian missiles.
Other events
The event was not the only memorial in Las Vegas. On Sunday, the Israeli American Council held a memorial service at City Hall, which featured the families of hostages still in Hamas captivity, Jewish leaders and politicians.
Also on Monday, more than 100 people gathered in Young Israel Aish HaTorah in Summerlin.
“I am brokenhearted,” Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks said. “I am broken. I am angry. I am not OK, and I suspect many of us sitting in this room today, we are not OK. But we are here together.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also spoke about the anniversary and called for unity against antisemitism.
“There are barbarians in this world, and they will do evil things, and they have to be met with an appropriate level of force,” Johnson said, receiving applause from the crowd.
Contact Katie Futterman at kfutterman@reviewjournal.com. Political reporter Jessica Hill contributed to this report. Contact Jessica Hill at jehill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @jess_hillyeah on X.