October 7th marks exactly one year since the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – October 7th marks exactly one year since the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.
On this day last year, many innocent lives were taken by the militant group, Hamas. This attack sparked a prolonged war in the country and even brought anti-Semitism and Islamophobia to the U.S.
According to the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, this is not a time to spread hate but it is a time for the community to come together.
On October 7th of last year, nearly 1200 innocent civilians were killed and more than 250 people were held hostage some of them were Americans. The federation hosted two gatherings in Northampton and Springfield to recognize the lives that were lost and those held hostage during the attack.
“I think it’s a time for us as a community together to grieve and also say this is just a time of adversity that we need community now than ever because as a people we have gone through this before and need to get through it again and we come back stronger and better than ever,” said Naimark.
Since the war began last year, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia increased in schools across the globe, including here in Massachusetts. This led to issues at UMass Amherst where Jewish students at UMass faced several anti-Semitic incidents, including genocidal chants, slurs, and threats.
When it comes to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia I think having candid conversations with everyone as much as possible, increasing and strengthening our interface connections and talking about it with our Christian, Jewish, and Muslim neighbors and just educating that throughout the school system,” said Naimark.
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