On Oct. 5, around 100 people gathered at the Mayerson JCC for a solemn ceremony to commemorate the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, when Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel and killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages.
The ceremony held extra weight after the past two years of war, and the precipitous rise in antisemitism, but the added weight of hope, since the announcement on Friday that Hamas had agreed to the release of the 50 remaining hostages detailed in the 20-point Trump peace plan.
“I am hopeful, but I won’t believe it until I see our hostages back on Israeli ground,” said Zahava Rendler, an Israeli and a Holocaust survivor.
honoring the victims of Oct 7 (image courtesy of Mayerson JCC, Dave Bushle)
The ceremony also included a moment of healing and marked the unveiling of the Yom Hatzma’ut community project, The Wings of Hope.
“We wanted to create a space and time to mourn and grieve the pain that was felt on Oct. 7 and is still ongoing,” said Rabbi Sammy Kanter. “But also, we wanted to end with a sign of hope that is going to live forever on our walls.”
The original Wings of Hope installation was made in July 2023 by Livnat Kutz, who died along with their family on Oct. 7, at Kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel.
the planning committee for the wings of hope. (photo: Cincy Jewfolk)
The exhibition was a sustainable art installation made from recycled plastic toys. Since then, several Jewish communities around the world have unveiled their own Wings of Hope exhibit.
“In our vision, ‘Wings of Hope’ will be replicated throughout Israel and around the world, commemorating Livnat’s deep dedication to community and resilience, ensuring her memory lives on,” says a statement on the Wings of Hope website.
“The Wings of Hope, which our community has worked on over the past six months, and I think, is a visual representation of taking things that were broken and perhaps what you thought was trash, and transforming them into a symbol of hope and possibility,” said Kanter.
image of other wings of hope installations across the globe (screenshot of map from wings of hope website)
Along with the unveiling of the Wings of Hope art installation, the day included a toy drive to honor the Oct. 7 victim, Noya Dan. Noya was a 12-year-old Israeli girl who was kidnapped and murdered on Oct. 7. To honor her memory, community members wrote cards and made care packages for children who would receive the toys and stuffed animals.
care packages for in need children (image courtesy Mayerson JCC)
The gathering balanced mourning with action, turning shared grief into a form of community resilience. As participants tied ribbons, packed toys, and reflected on the ongoing pain of the war, many spoke about the need to keep hope alive – not just for those still missing, but for a broader sense of peace and healing that feels increasingly urgent.
“My mind struggles to block my personal trauma, the loss of my cousin in Gaza this year, the murder of my childhood friend at the Nova Music festival, and the bombardment of my own neighborhood by Iranian rockets….I remain hopeful,” said Israeli expat Illan Goldman. “I believe we are nearing a resolution that may eventually usher in a more stable and optimistic future for the region.”
“I think that there is a glimmer of hope,” said Kanter. “I really do hope that the hostages will be returned soon, the war comes to an end immediately, and that some sort of healing can happen, healing for Israel, healing for Gaza, and Palestinians.”
