Members of the Jewish student community convened at Hogg Memorial Auditorium to commemorate the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks that shook Israel in 2023.
The solemn event, organized by several student groups including Texas Hillel and Olami Texas, drew over 200 students and community members, marking its second annual memorial gathering.
As attendees took their seats, a video displayed the names of every known victim of the tragic Hamas attack.
“Tonight, we gather in unity with heavy hearts to remember the darkest day in our recent history, Oct. 7, 2023,” stated Lia Bloom, an executive board member of Texas Hillel and a senior in speech, language, and hearing.
The attacks resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, prompting an immediate response from the Israeli government, which initiated a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. This ongoing conflict, according to NPR, has since claimed the lives of about 67,000 Palestinians.
The memorial commenced with a poignant video tribute that highlighted the events of Oct. 7. A candle-lit board at the front of the auditorium bore the message, “Bring Them Home,” honoring the hostages in Gaza who have yet to be reunited with their families.
Matan Weiss, a former resident of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, took to the stage to remember a close friend, Ilan, who lost his life during the attacks. Weiss serves as an ambassador to Texas Hillel and shared a personal account of the tragedy.
“I always felt safe … because of Ilan,” Weiss recalled. “On Oct. 7, I had no doubt Ilan would be the first to fight, and he was.”
He continued by reading the names of those who perished in Kibbutz Nahal Oz and shared touching stories about each individual.
“In 2024, when I was asked to be the spokesperson of the kibbutz, I didn’t hesitate, even though I knew the price I would pay,” Weiss expressed. “It’s the quiet pain of those who survive.”
A tribute video featured Amit Mann, a nurse who was killed during the attacks. This emotional piece combined footage of Mann singing, along with a cover of Adele’s song “Hello” by an Israeli musician who had discovered Mann’s performance posthumously.
Shira Kovatch, a senior majoring in psychology, recounted her experience during a Birthright trip to Israel in summer 2024, where many American Jews explore their connection to Israel. She focused on the memory of Yonatan Lober, a deceased Israel Defense Forces sergeant.
“Post-Oct. 7, we stood together at the fresh graves of the newly fallen soldiers,” Kovatch shared. “I felt as though Jonathan’s memory itself was calling out to us, bringing us together and reminding us of the power of his story.”
During the ceremony, students united to recite prayers for the freedom of the hostages and for the well-being of Israeli Defense Forces soldiers.
Lia Nevipur, a sophomore in advertising, concluded the event by performing Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah.”
For many within the Jewish community at UT, the memorial represented a moment of hope amid ongoing conflict.
“As we gather here tonight, the eyes of the world and the hopes of our people are focused on the promise that our hostages will finally come home,” Bloom emphasized. “We pray that this moment will mark the beginning of their safe return.”
image source from：thedailytexan
