![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/L1Flags.jpg\")
The flags at the JCC in Cherry Hill. (Photo by Tal Shahar Courtesy of Tint Photograph)<\/p>\n The flags at the JCC in Cherry Hill. (Photo by Tal Shahar Courtesy of Tint Photograph)<\/p>\n
In a few days\u2019 time, it will have been two years since the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.<\/p>\n
The deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust still sits at the forefront of the minds of Jews and Israelis everywhere. Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Senior Chief of External Affairs Jeffrey Lasday put it succinctly: \u201cA lot of people feel it\u2019s still Oct. 8.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Delaware Valley and beyond, Jewish federations are preparing for the second anniversary of the attacks with a host of events to memorialize those lost, raise awareness of those still in captivity and remind everyone that none of this should happen again.<\/p>\n
Stephanie Dworkin, the chief marketing officer of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, said that the events being held in the coming week serve an essential purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a community that cares deeply about combating antisemitism and hate in all forms, certainly related to the atrocities of Oct. 7 and beyond. We have a strong Jewish community here in South Jersey, a strong Israeli community as well, and it\u2019s important that we continue to show our support for them and for all of our brothers and sisters in Israel, that we\u2019re always there for them, and we will never forget what happened on Oct. 7,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is hosting two commemorations, one virtual and the other in person. Both will be held on Oct. 5. The in-person memorial will start with an exhibit at 5 p.m. and continue with a ceremony at 6 p.m. The exhibit will include visuals and video clips of the day of the attack, which Lasday said will be hard for some to stomach, but is too important not to include.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a time when there\u2019s denial going on, even in the preponderance of evidence about this happening \u2014 the perpetrators filmed the atrocities as they were committing them \u2014 the world is in denial. So I think it\u2019s important to bear witness. To say, \u2018This happened. This was traumatic,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Following that, there will be readings, prayer and music, designed to memorialize as well as inspire some hope.<\/p>\n
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Scenes after Hamas\u2019 terror attack on Israel in 2023. (Photo by Kobi Gideon Courtesy of Wikicommons)<\/p>\n
The event is being held in concert with the Consulate General of Israel, the Israeli-American Council, the Israeli Scouts, the Kaiserman JCC, Main Line Reform Temple, Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel and other community organizations.<\/p>\n
\u201c[It] really is a communitywide event,\u201d Lasday said.<\/p>\n
In southern New Jersey, the Federation began the memorials by surrounding the Katz JCC with Israeli flags in a show of solidarity with the country. On Oct. 5, the Jewish Community Relations Council is hosting its annual March of Remembrance, which is a walk against hate in all forms, with the specific goal of commemorating the atrocities of the Holocaust and antisemitism today.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the most interesting event will be when the Federation hosts the Hate Ends Now Cattle Car exhibit. This exhibit is a mobile station that shows the history of the Holocaust and antisemitism with a re-creation of a Nazi cattle car used to transport Jews to concentration camps.<\/p>\n
The final event in South Jersey is the opening of the Humans of Oct. 7 art exhibition in the JCC\u2019s Appel Art Gallery.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a beautiful and meaningful art display that\u2019s intended to give the community an opportunity to remember, share and reflect on the past two years. There\u2019s a number of photos of people \u2026 from various walks of life,\u201d Dworkin said.
That exhibit will be open through the end of November.<\/p>\n
Lasday said he is sure that the Jewish people will not forget.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still so fresh. It\u2019s still so new that I don\u2019t know what it\u2019ll look like five years from now, or 20 or 30 years from now. It\u2019s still the moment,\u201d he said. \u201cHow will this be commemorated in future years? I\u2019m not sure, but I\u2019m sure it will become part of the fall.\u201d<\/p>\n