On this October 7th Day
Dear Friends,
We live in a time of the unimaginable. It’s hard to believe a year has passed since that terrible day.
Early on the morning of October 7, 2023, young adults dancing in each other’s arms, children sleeping in their beds, and grandparents waking up to prepare breakfast were violently attacked. The entire Jewish world experienced a shattering of the joy of the Simchat Torah holiday by thousands of Hamas terrorists. For those of us who awoke in Cambridge, Massachusetts, we looked on, aghast, and offered support to our Jewish family in many ways. Some sought refuge and connection within our walls. Harvard Hillel threw open our doors and stayed open late, providing food and supportive staff to listen and weep together. In the weeks that followed, we met new students who had never connected before to their Jewish community. Others left out of fear, concern about ostracization, or disagreement with Israel’s military response.
The “situation,” perhaps somewhat remote for some of us in America, has become deeply personal for us at Harvard Hillel. Members of our community have lost loved ones.. Others were called up for military service. Some of us have friends who are still held hostage in Gaza.
As Campus Rabbi at Harvard, I can tell you that day was one of the hardest days of my life. There were so many tears. One Israeli student’s cries as she spoke about her home in Kfar ‘Aza in particular still resonates in my heart. Another student told me that six of her close family friends had been murdered. Then there were the many students experiencing betrayal and pain at how betrayed Harvard community turned on them when Harvard Palestinian Solidarity Committee’s collective letter blamed victims of rape and murder for their own fate. Students walked the halls of their dorms and classrooms knowing that their friends and roommates had signed on to that inflammatory letter. One spoke with me bewildered to himself have been a member of a dance troop who had signed the letter justifying violence against his friends.
One reason that the state of Israel was founded was to provide the world’s Jews in a safe haven. This vision has been smashed by the realities of hatred, violence, and antisemitism. For many American Jews, universities like Harvard represented a similar ideal, a place of safety and opportunity. This too was broken on October 7th.
We are still processing this ongoing trauma.
Yet, amidst the pain, the students and staff of Harvard Hillel have shown remarkable resilience. We have gathered to cry and to mourn, but also have welcomed our holidays with joyous meals, prayer, and lively conversation. We celebrate our holidays, gather each Shabbat, and have witnessed a flowering of new student groups and initiatives. I’ve been deeply inspired by our community’s resilience, generosity, and love. I am grateful for the many friends and allies who have stood with us during this difficult time.
As we mark this one-year anniversary, Israel continues to defend itself against Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and all those who seek its destruction. Rockets have landed in Boston’s sister city of Haifa, and close to 100 hostages remain in Gaza.
Tonight, I will find comfort in being surrounded by many of you at our Memorial Vigil at 5pm on the steps of Widener Library. I look forward to processing with you afterwards at 7pm as we remember and grieve.
We look forward to mourning the loss of all civilian lives – including Palestinans lives – on October 15th.
We pray for the people of Israel, the return of the hostages, and for lasting peace.
Am Yisrael Chai,
Rabbi Getzel Davis
Campus Rabbi and Senior Director of Religious and Spiritual Life
Harvard Hillel