Ramapo Hillel and Chabad Jewish Student Club hosted their “Remembrance of October 7th” event on Monday to honor and showcase the one-year anniversary of the attack on Israel.
Both clubs came together to host a remembrance ceremony and awareness table for students to join in on remembering the day. The ceremony on Oct. 7 was presented by Hillel Vice President Amit Machlof and Chabad President Leonora Kleinmann. Both presidents spoke about those who lost their lives in the destruction and what was happening.
After the ceremony, the students and faculty that attended were given the opportunity to pray for those that lost their lives and those who continue to. Once the prayer was over, students of both Chabad and Hillel held a tabling outside of the Center of Student Involvement in order to bring awareness of the day.
On top of the table were candles for the “souls that were lost and continue to lose,” stones, matches for students to take and light candles for Shabbat. Students were encouraged to take items from the table to learn more about Jewish culture and understand more about their community here on campus.
The Hillel and Chabad e-board told students of the story of Oct. 7 and why it is so important to talk about it and get the message of the day across to students and faculty here on campus. Also on the table was a bucket full of beads that showcased how many lives were lost in the fight against Hamas. Every bead represented 1,000 people who died.
President of Hillel and senior here at Ramapo, Spencer Seigel-Laddy said in an interview with The Ramapo News, “This day was a bloody day and this is our way of trying to get those that are still hostage and still there home safe. We hope for a better future where this will not happen again.”
This table was meant to bring together the students and provide education here on campus. This event, much like Chabad and Hillel, is open to anyone on campus to learn a little more about Jewish culture and history.
Administrator Director of Chabad NW of Bergen County and Chabad RCNJ Shlucha Lucrecia Kleinmann says, “We need to remember to come together and show our Jewish pride strongly and to unite and to share light to in order to get out of the darkness.”
For more information about Hillel and Chabad and their mission on campus look at https://www.ramapo.edu/ministries/hillel/ and https://www.ramapo.edu/ministries/chabad/.
rbleich@ramapo.edu
Featured photo by Rebecca Bleich
