October 7, Three Years Later: Remembrance, Recovery and Rhode Island’s Response

Three years since the October 7 attacks. Today marks the anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Israelis are holding commemorations at the Nova festival site and Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square.

A moment of silence at 6:29 a.m. Anniversary organizers in Israel and beyond will hold a minute of silence at the time the attack began, followed by commemorations led by bereaved families, Nova festival families and civic organizations.

On this third anniversary Jerusalem Post editor-in-chief Zvika Klein opens a personal commentary with an apology to families whose stories never reached the newspaper’s pages. They had shared photographs, names and memories of loved ones; some received no response, while others heard back too late. His reflection draws attention to the individual lives behind the headlines—and the families still waiting for those stories to be told.

Read Zvika Klein’s commentary in The Jerusalem Post.

What is most unique about this anniversary is that it is the first with no hostages remaining in Gaza. Jewish News Syndicate reports that all surviving hostages and the remains of those who died have been returned. Jewish organizations describe a shift from campaigning for their release toward remembrance, recovery and preserving testimony.

There are survivor talks, concerts and installations around the country, including a student-organized memorial exhibit at Boston University. A New York installation incorporates donated hostage tags and pins into a sculpture preserving the community’s collective memory.

In Rhode Island…

Events are planned in Rhode Island. The Jewish Alliance of RI notes that October 7th is so difficult and painful, but it is “an opportunity to come together and turn our care and concern into action”. The Alliance will come together to do something meaningful for both our local community and Israel.

In partnership with Jewish Collaborative Services and Leket Israel, an event to help prepare emergency bags for members of our local community and also lend a hand in the community pantry will take place today. The gathering will also learn more about Leket Israel, Israel’s national food bank and leading food rescue organization, and the important work they do to help provide food to those in need across Israel.

Emergency bag preparation is from 1pm – 2:30pm, and Food Pantry volunteering is from 10am to 12pm.

Tomorrow, Oct. 8th, Brown RISD Hillel will welcome former hostage, Maya Regev, to speak. Regev was kidnapped from the Nova festival and held for 50 days.