In the early hours of Oct. 7, 2023, Utah families woke up to a harsh and violent reality. Hours previously, thousands of Hamas fighters broke through the Gaza border into Israel and committed unspeakable murders, rapes and mutilation on close to 1,200 people, the vast majority civilians from newborns to the elderly in their 90s. Most of the atrocities were committed at the Nova festival and in the homes of those living in the region.
Moreover, the terrorists filmed themselves as they abducted at least 251 people, from over 25 nationalities. Now, a year later, at least 97 hostages remain in Gaza — including seven Americans, their families not knowing who is dead or alive.
The shadow cast by the events of Oct. 7 continues as we grapple with the trauma of that day. We witness daily efforts of the hostage families to bring their loved one’s home. These families have visited our state. On hearing their stories, we have felt the pain of not knowing what we would do if our son or daughter had been kidnapped that day.
My family is directly connected to three border villages: Saad, Beiri and Nir Yitzhak. That day, through WhatsApp texts and voice calls, we connected with family and friends as the battle raged outside, the noises of that day carried through the internet to our homes in Salt Lake City. Only in subsequent days we would learn of the death of a family member at the Nova festival, the critical injury of another and the death and abduction of a good friend’s son.
Throughout the past year, a shadow has remained over us — a feeling of helplessness and anger over what had happened then and is still happening now.
As Americans, we understand this type of shadow. The events of Oct. 7 resonate for many in Utah. We remember 9/11, a terror attack that took the lives of 2,977 Americans. The Oct. 7 attack now ranks as the third deadliest terrorist attack globally since 1970, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
For the past 11 months, members from our small Utah Jewish community have traveled to Israel. Visiting the Gaza border in December of 2023, we saw Jews and Arab Israelis unite in helping support the displaced Israelis — Jews, Muslims and Christians — and in volunteering to fill the place of so many Israeli men and women called up to reserve military duty.
Here our community galvanized under the United Jewish Federation of Utah to send goods and financial support to Israel. Jews and non-Jews raised close to $1 million for those impacted on Oct. 7.
Many of us have traveled again to Israel and visited the killing fields of the Nova festival site. For Israelis, the failure of its military and government to protect its citizens exacerbates the pain of Oct. 7 and the need for explanations. For Jewish Americans, feelings of isolation, disappointment and disillusionment have continued to grow.
Sadly, Oct. 7 has unleashed widespread antisemitism. As soon as Oct. 8, bomb threats were called into our synagogues and institutions. It is felt every sabbath as we observe the police guarding us as we pray. Our community experienced this new wave of antisemitism in downtown Salt Lake City and on our campuses. We recognize that, for some, being an American Jew will never be the same as it was before Oct. 7.
We understand the toll this war has taken on Israelis and Palestinians since Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack. We blame Hamas, not the Palestinians that are being used as human shields. We have grieved for the families who must say goodbye to sons and daughters killed in battle and in Hamas captivity. We grieve for the Palestinians living under Hamas tyranny, being sacrificed for its brutal ideology.
Our yearning is that this terrible war will ensure a future without Hamas, so as to never repeat a day like Oct. 7.
As Jews, we have dealt with many shadows in our tumultuous history. We pray that the shadows will fade as light overcomes the evil in our midst. Our local community, together with Jews and friends around the world, connect with grief and hope with the families impacted by Oct. 7.
We yearn to see hostages come home. The light of the happiness they deserve will raise us all.
We look to a time of peace, so Israelis and Palestinians can build a better future for themselves. Each of us must dig deep to bring the lights of love, compassion and hope. Through these efforts and more, we believe the shadows will begin to fade and light will shine again.
(Ron Zamir) Ron Zamir is a long-time Salt Lake City resident and a local business person.
Ron Zamir is a long-time Salt Lake City resident and a local business person. He serves on the Board of the United Jewish Federation of Utah.
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