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.
Jews across the Chicago area were spending 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 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 Hortoi 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
Monday night in Skokie, there will be a communitywide memorial sponsored in part by the Jewish United Fund.
Chicago-based family members of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and survivors of the Nova Music Festival will speak during the memorial which begins at 7:30 p.m. Goldberg-Polin was among the hundreds of young people attending the Nova Music Festival, and was killed by Hamas in August.
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.
