LAKEWOOD – Close to 400 people including numerous county officials came out for a vigil in support of the victims impacted by the recent attack by the terrorist group Hamas.
The vigil was held at Beth Am Shalom in Lakewood and it was sponsored by Beth Am Shalom, Chabad of Toms River, Congregation Ahavat Olam in Howell, Congregation B’nai Israel in Toms River, the JCC of Long Beach Island, the Jewish Federation of Ocean County, and Temple Beth Or in Brick.
Speakers included local rabbis and other leaders including Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer. Special guests included Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill, Ocean County Commissioners Virginia Haines, Barbara “Bobbi” Jo Crea, Gary Quinn, and Sheriff Michael Mastronardy.
Senator Cory Booker, Congressman Andy Kim, and Congressman Chris Smith sent greetings and statements that were shared during the event. Participants in the event waved Israeli flags and held signs saying “We Stand with Israel.”
The program consisted of speakers describing the horror of the attacks in Israel, the evil and lack of humanity on the part of Hamas and the attackers, prayers for the victims, and messages of hope and affirmation for the future. A central theme was the resilience and perseverance of the people of Israel.
“There is a deep commitment to Israel in our local Jewish community. We need to come together to make a strong statement to others and to reaffirm the values and the connections that bind us together,” Annabel Lindenbaum, Board Chair of the Jewish Federation remarked.
She shared that the equivalent of this attack in the United States would have left 35,000 dead and more than 100,000 injured.
“Our community needs an opportunity to come together, to grieve together, to share our hopes together, and to condemn evil with a loud and unified voice,” said Rabbi Stephen Gold of Beth Am Shalom. He compared those who perpetrated these horrific acts as worse than animals, since animals only kill for food or to protect their young. “They don’t kill for hate, terrorists do that.”
Rabbi William Gershon, of Congregation B’nai Israel, referred to this atrocity as a pogrom, not unlike the Kishinev Pogrom. He stressed that Jews today are no longer defenseless, because of Israel. “No matter how much our enemies may think they can beat us, no matter how much ignorant or misguided people will seek to dismiss the truth about the evils of Hamas and Islamic extremists. No matter how haters and anti-Semites will try and undermine the legitimacy of a Jewish state, Israel will stand strong – and we will stand with Israel.”
Beth Am Shalom President Fran Gimpel echoed this sentiment and said, “this horrific attack and the actions of Hamas against innocent civilians, including kidnapping and maiming as well as killing, defies belief – but it must be confronted head-on. Our brothers and sisters need our voice, and we need to come together – ‘am echad b’lev echad, as one people with one heart – at this most trying time for Israel.”
A special Israel Emergency Campaign on behalf of the Ocean County Jewish community was announced through the Jewish Federation. Funds raised will go directly to help victims affected by these events and relief and recovery in Israel.
The Jewish Federation has offered $50,000 in matching grant to encourage contribution. Lindenbaum said the Federation has set a goal of raising “at least $150,000 towards this Campaign.”
That means every new dollar given will be doubled through this match up to $50,000. Additional information can be found at jewishoceancounty.org/Israelresponse.
