Chicago area families of Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel mark one year since deadly massacre
CHICAGO (CBS) — It's been one year since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel. About 1,200 people were killed – marking the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust – and more than 250 others were taken hostage, setting off a yearlong war in Gaza.
Roughly 100 hostages are still believed to be held captive.
People across the Chicago area spent Monday honoring those who were killed in the attack, and demanding the release of more than 100 hostages believed to still be in captivity in Gaza.
The pain of the conflict thousands of miles around the world has touched the Chicago area in many ways.
In north suburban Northbrook, dozens of candles were lit overnight Sunday into Monday at a vigil to remember the victims of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
The Northbrook Community Synagogue welcomed the community to pray together. They prayed for those taken hostage by Hamas and honored the memories of the hundreds killed at the Nova Music Festival and communities nearby.
Two people at the vigil used to live in Israel, and shared how the tragedy touched their lives.
"A year ago, I had to call my friends a year ago today and tell them that friends of ours had been murdered," Ezra Horton said.
The event started at 10:30 p.m. Chicago time on Sunday, the same time the attack started in Israel exactly one year ago.
Nova Music Festival survivors and family of murdered hostage to speak in Skokie
In Skokie on Monday night, hundreds gathered to commemorate one year since the horrific attack. The memorial event was sponsored in part by the Jewish United Fund.
Hundreds attended the event, which began with the Israeli national anthem. Among those who spoke afterward were Chicago-based family members of Hersh Goldberg-Polin—a hostage who was murdered by Hamas—and a survivor of the attack on the Nova Music Festival that was ambushed.
One year since the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, hundreds gathered in Skokie to say collectively, "Never again," as they called for the hostages to return.
"First, there were the missiles, and I stayed at a party area—and the terrorists came and shot everywhere," said Shahar Gabay, who survived the Nova Music Festival by jumping on top of an ambulance. "After I got off the ambulance, they shot an RPG on it. I'm feeling like I was reborn, and I feel like I got my life back."
One year later, Gabay was in Skokie to speak at the memorial event.
"I came to tell my story; for everyone to know what happened that day and how terrible it was," he said.
Meanwhile, Goldberg-Polin was one of the hostages who did not survive. He was found dead in Gaza last month.
"No words can describe adequately Hersh's funeral," said his grandmother, Leah Goldstein Polin Hirsch. "He was a good person. He wished that other people were good and decent and honest."
Goldberg-Polin, 23, has family from the Chicago area. On Monday night, relatives continued to advocate for the surviving hostages.
"We have to do everything we can to get the remaining 101 hostages out as soon as possible," said Goldberg-Polin's aunt, Abby Polin.
Among those in the large crowd Monday night were over a dozen city, state, and federal elected officials offering their support.
Highland Park hosts vigil honoring anniversary of attack
Hundreds of people gathered in north suburban Highland Park Sunday night to pause and remember on the eve of the one-year commemoration of the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas.
At the event at Port Clinton Square in Highland Park, clergy members led memorial prayers and event organizers and community leaders made remarks. Participants also walked together to a temporary memorial near St. Johns and Central avenues.
The event was organized by a group of moms who call themselves Shamash—which is the name of the extra candle used to light the other candles on a Chanukah menorah.
"Shamash" means "helper" or "servant" in Hebrew, which is what members say they want to be for the community in light of the attack.
Israelis were marking a full year Monday since Hamas' brutal Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, gathering at the sites of some of the atrocities to honor those killed and demand the release of those still held captive in Gaza.
The Israeli memorial events came as tension continued to rise across the volatile Middle East. Israel carried out more airstrikes inside Lebanon overnight, where its fight against the Hamas-allied group Hezbollah has intensified rapidly since mid-September.