The one-year anniversary of the attack on Oct. 7, 2023, featured prayer and a movie showing the life of one family of survivors at Temple Beth El in Springfield.
Reminder Publishing photo by G. Michael Dobbs
SPRINGFIELD — A near capacity group of worshippers filled the sanctuary at Temple Beth El on Oct. 7 to mark the passing of the first year since Hamas terrorists killed and kidnapped Israelis, the action that started the current war.
The congregation has long displayed photos of the victims in front of the Dickinson Street synagogue.
Rabbi Amy Wallk, who led the program, explained that prayer has helped her cope with the events of the past year. “It’s so difficult to pray in the last year and yet I clung to my prayers.”
One of the prayers she used was “an ancient prayer for people in distress.” The prayer, which was recited by the congregation is: “As for our brothers and sisters the whole house of Israel, who are given over to trouble or captivity whether they abide on the seas or on the dry lands. May the All-present have mercy upon them and bring them forth from trouble to enlargement, from darkness to light and from subjection to redemption now speedily and at a near time. Amen.”
Wallk said the prayer “soothed my soul.” She added, “This is not the first generation to have brothers and sisters in distress.”
Although the current status of the conflict — with its lack of a ceasefire — was not directly mentioned, Wallk spoke of the need for hope. “We have to embrace hope,” she said.
She described hope as “a slender thread” connecting people.
The film, “Beyond Oct. 7,” was then shown. Director Jasmine Kainy’s hour-long production follows three generations of the Gad family who lived and worked at the Be’eri kibbutz. It starts just three days after the Oct. 7 attack and shows how the family members struggle with living through the events.
The film depicts the many emotions and coping mechanism the survivors must employ to live through the attack. It shares in an understated way the impact of war on a family.
The production opened with cell phone video footage taken by a family member from the safe room in their home. We hear their conversations punctuated by the sounds of automatic gunfire.
One family member explained to the director that in their community 90 people were killed and 30 were kidnapped.
Throughout the film, family members, who are put up in a nearby hotel, attempt to deal with their grief and loss while still trying to have a normal family life. One member of the family goes back to their home to get clothing and other items. He sees the devastation in his community and noted which one of his neighbors were murdered.
The same man goes back to his job and seems eager for some element of normal activity.
Another family member expresses frustration with repeating her story to various news outlets from around the world and yet continues her effects to recount what happened.
The film shows how the family members are uncertain about what their future will be.
For a segment of the film go to vimeo.com/986113536.
