One Year After October 7: We Will Not Be Broken
We stand now in the space between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Days of Awe, and tomorrow marks the first anniversary of one of the darkest days in Jewish history: October 7, 2023. On that day, Israel faced a brutal and devastating attack that shattered lives, altered families, and pierced the heart of our people. It was not just an attack on Israel; it was an attack on all Jews everywhere. And the wave of antisemitism that has grown since then has been relentless. For many, this past year has been a harsh reminder of the dangers we face simply for being Jewish.
Yet, in the face of this, we must remember the core truth of our people: Am Yisrael Chai — the people of Israel live! We are still here. We have faced destruction before, we have mourned our losses, and each time, we have rebuilt. Our very survival is an act of defiance. Our resilience is a sacred inheritance. From generation to generation, we have been charged with carrying the flame of Jewish life, and even now, amidst the grief and fear, we carry it forward.
As we approach Yom Kippur, we are asked to look inward, to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. But this year, as we stand one year after the murders of so many Jews, our sisters and brothers and babies and parents and grandparents — in ways that rival the worst our People has ever experienced, our reflection must go beyond personal introspection. This year calls for something greater: a collective reawakening. We are called to stand together, to reclaim our Jewish pride, and to support each other as never before.
Our young Jews on college campuses, in particular, need us now. They are facing a surge of antisemitism in environments that often feel hostile to their very identity. It is our responsibility to protect them, to let them know that they are not alone, and to remind them of the strength they come from. We must show up for them in real ways — by speaking out, by educating others, by creating spaces of safety and belonging. We cannot abandon them to fear or alienation. They are the present and future of our people, and they must know that we stand with them, that we are proud of them, and that they are part of something ancient, strong, and enduring. And worthy. And beautiful.
This is not a time for us to shrink back or hide our identity. This is a time for us to stand tall as Jews, with pride in who we are and where we come from. For thousands of years, we have endured persecution, and yet we have never allowed the hatred of others to define us. We have always defined ourselves — by our commitment to justice, to learning, to family, to community. This is what it means to be Jewish. And now, in this difficult moment, we must reclaim that identity with even greater passion. We must hold our heads high and remind the world — and ourselves — that we are a people of strength, of resilience, of hope.
Tomorrow, as we mark the anniversary of the attack, let it be a day not only of raw mourning but of decisive resolve. Let it be a day when we recommit to one another, to our people, to our homeland the State of Israel, and to our values. Let it be a day when we say: We will not be broken. Our enemies have tried for generations to destroy us, but we are still here. And we will continue to be here, thriving, forever.
We are one people, no matter where we live, no matter our backgrounds. Whether in Israel, on campuses, in cities around the world, we are part of one unbreakable, shimmering chain. We must protect one another. We must fight for one another. We must love one another with the depth and fierceness that our history demands and that our descendants deserve.
As Yom Kippur approaches, we prepare to stand before God and each other, humbled but unafraid. The words of the Unetaneh Tokef — “Who shall live and who shall die” — have taken on new meaning this year. We have been reminded all too well the fragility of life and the cost of hatred. But we also remember the power of life, the strength of our traditions, and the indomitable spirit of our People.
So let us go into Yom Kippur not only seeking forgiveness, but renewing our commitment to a strong and vibrant Jewish future. Let us hold our heads high with Jewish pride. Let us support our children with unwavering love and solidarity. And let us continue to show the world, as we have for millennia, that no force on Earth can extinguish the flame of Jewish Life.
G’mar Chatimah Tovah. May we all be sealed for a year of strength, unity, and pride.