One Year Later: Los Angeles Remembers 2024
This is the speech I gave at the “Los Angeles Remembers” ceremony on October 7, 2024 for the one-year anniversary of the horrific October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre in southern Israel.
The event was co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles (JFED), the Israeli-American Council (IAC), Temple of the Arts and held at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills.
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We have lived with so much anxiety and so much sadness and loss since October 7, 2023.
A few weeks ago, together with colleagues from ELNET and American Jewish Committee, I had the honor of meeting a very high-level Hindu spiritual leader, Ravi Shankar, who has written about lowering anxiety through breathing techniques and meditation, with the goal of achieving inner peace. I took this amazing opportunity to ask him, what about the Jewish people in this moment?
How can we possibly reduce our anxiety as we are painfully aware that Iran and its proxies seek our demise, and Hamas is still holding our people in the dark tunnels of Gaza? I asked him if he has guidance for the Jewish people in this difficult moment? I will never forget his response. He smiled, and said…
“Tell your people that the universe has a way of correcting itself.”
So on this evening, with over 2,000 people in this room and countless people watching us right now from cities around the world, I am delivering that message to you. With God’s help, the Universe has a way of correcting itself.
But not without courage and resolve…
…not without tremendous sacrifice and heroism.
Jewish history is not only filled with our tragedy and loss. It is also rich with heroes who have endangered themselves to save Jewish people who were at risk—like Moses– like King David,– like the Maccabees — like Queen Esther — like Hannah Senesh –and like all the heroic resistance fighters throughout history who defended the Jewish people. Including on October 7th.
We are alive at a time that we can witness the incredible heroism and ingenuity of one of the strongest armies in the world— the IDF.
Of Israel’s search and rescue teams, the Israeli AIR FORCE…
Of the Mossad intelligence agency…of Shin Bet Security…the Naval Commando unit, Maglan… Duvdevan… Israel’s special forces…and so much more.
There will be books and films written about the thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies that went off at the same time. About precision strikes against terrorist leaders… We are witnessing miracles, creativity and heroism against all odds.
And through our grief we must stop and take note of the miracles, the strength of character…. and of the heroism because it is indeed breathtaking.
Everyone knows that Israel has never lost a war since its rebirth in 1948, and we also deeply understand that Israel can NEVER lose a war.
And it is with that knowledge and determination, that Israelis stand tall and strong, and will continue to do everything to protect and defend the State of Israel and its citizens.
As we usher in this Jewish New Year, may the hostages come home to their families.
May the soldiers come home safe, and those who are injured, including civilians, recover fully and quickly.
And, with God’s help, may the universe correct itself and usher in a new Middle East that offers Israel and her neighbors real opportunity for peaceful coexistence.
AM YISRAEL CHAI
Watch the entire event here: https://www.youtube.com/live/NDuGhMPNJq0
and here: https://www.facebook.com/StandWithUs/videos/1288944388761211
Watch my speech here: https://www.facebook.com/StandWithUs/videos/1403118790648843