Israel Remembers October 7th, Vows to Rise Stronger
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Rabbi Professor Yitzchak Cohen called for Israelis to channel the memory of the October 7th attacks into a mission of mutual responsibility and national unity. Speaking at a memorial event, he urged the nation to support victims' families, honor the fallen, and overcome internal divisions. Cohen emphasized that remembrance should fuel the nation's resilience and rebuilding efforts, transforming grief into a commitment to life and unity. The ceremony was held at Ono Academic Campus in Jerusalem.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Professor Yitzchak Cohen urged Israelis to turn October 7th remembrance into a mission of unity.
- He called for embracing victims' families and honoring the fallen soldiers and civilians.
- Cohen highlighted the emergence of mutual aid and responsibility during the Hamas attacks.
- He stressed that remembrance should inspire national resilience and rebuilding efforts.
- The ceremony took place at Ono Academic Campus in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Professor Yitzchak Cohen urged Israelis to transform the memory of the October 7th Hamas attacks into a mission of mutual responsibility and national unity. Speaking at a memorial ceremony at Ono Academic Campus in Jerusalem, Cohen emphasized that the date, which marked the start of the devastating Hamas assault, has become deeply etched into the nation's identity, leaving an "unerasable wound" but also revealing the strength of mutual guarantee.
He called on the nation to embrace the families of the victims, strive to be worthy of the fallen soldiers and civilians, protect the homeland, and prevent internal disputes from alienating citizens. Cohen invoked biblical verses to describe the profound grief and loss experienced by the nation, particularly the families who lost loved ones, assuring them that they do not bear this memory alone.
The rabbi highlighted that amidst the darkness of October 7th, a powerful spirit of mutual aid emerged, with security forces, firefighters, and ordinary citizens rushing to help others without regard for background or beliefs. This, he stated, reawakened the ancient truth that "all of Israel are responsible for one another."
Cohen stressed that the nation's response to the tragedy must be to rise again, not by forgetting, but by remembering. This remembrance entails building a society worthy of the victims, honoring the sacrifices of the fallen, supporting the wounded and bereaved families, and safeguarding the home for which they fought. He urged Israelis to overcome internal divisions, recognizing their shared identity as one family and one people.
Concluding with a call to action inspired by the Book of Isaiah, Cohen stated that the nation's deepest response to October 7th will be to rise from the ashes, rebuild from the wreckage, and learn anew what it means to be a people. He expressed hope for a future where peace prevails, the wounded heal, and the nation can affirm, "We fell, and we rose. We grieved, and we built. We remembered, and we chose life."
