SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. Here in Syracuse, the campus reflected as there are calls for peace around the world.
At 5:30 p.m., Syracuse Hillel led a vigil at Hendricks Chapel on campus to honor the lives lost on Oct. 7, 2023 and stand for peace. This is part of interfaith peace week at SU where each day is organized by and honors a different religious or spiritual community.
Rabbi Natan Levy from Hillel said the evening was an opportunity for community to come together in positivity.
“We want there be a peaceful change, and now the theme that we’re creating here is how do we go from that darkness to light? How do we go from sorrow to comfort, and how do we go from a sense of mourning to a real sense of being together?” Levy said.
Chabad at Syracuse University also participated in remembrance events to reflect on the importance of the day, especially as it falls on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
“Today is a day to remind everyone about coming together with support for one another. What good can bring to the world? What positivity can we bring to make a better place?” Chabad Rabbi Mendy Rapoport said.
Students at SU spent the day reflecting with friends and family, as well as coming together as a community at remembrance events.
“When there’s division, people should just make more of an effort to educate themselves. There’s always so much spreading online, misinformation on both sides. We need to bring these topics into conversations. I feel like a lot of times people are afraid to talk about it or ask about it,” Syracuse junior Klara Harel said. “I’ve talked to the Chabad rabbi and he always says Chabad is open to everyone 24/7, not just Jewish students.”