Beverly Hills, LA Organizations To Mark Oct. 7 Anniversary

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Beverly Hills and Jewish and Israeli organizations across Los Angeles County will Wednesday mark the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel with moments of remembrance, survivor accounts, candlelight vigils and community memorials.

Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages during their attack on southern Israel. The assault, which included attacks on communities near Gaza and the Nova music festival, triggered the Israel-Hamas war.

Beverly Hills will hold a "Moment of Remembrance" from 6:45 to 7 a.m. Wednesday at Rexford Mini Park, 362 N. Rexford Drive. City Council members are scheduled to join community members in honoring those killed in the attack.

Beverly Hills is also developing a permanent Oct. 7 memorial outside the Beverly Hills Public Library, across from Rexford Mini Park and beside the city's 9/11 memorial.

The proposed memorial, called "Light Shared Between Us," was conceptually approved by the City Council. It is intended as a space for remembrance, education and reflection, according to the city, which has committed $500,000 toward the project.

"May this memorial inspire future generations to recognize the dangers of antisemitism, hatred, bigotry, and dehumanization, inspiring us to stand against them whenever they appear, and to uphold the dignity of every human life," city officials said.

At 7 p.m., StandWithUs and partner organizations will present "United in Memory & Resilience," a citywide memorial at the Saban Theatre, Temple of the Arts Beverly Hills, 8440 Wilshire Blvd.

Nova Music Festival survivors Rom El-Hai and Lee Sasi, former hostage Maya Regev and author Noa Tishby are scheduled to speak. Representatives of StandWithUs, the American Jewish Committee and Israeli-American Council are also expected to participate, organizers said.

The program will include a community candle-lighting ceremony, a performance by the Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble and music by singers Sam Glaser and Eden Kontez.

StandWithUs is presenting the free event with the American Jewish Committee, Israeli-American Council, Temple of the Arts, Jewish Journal and the Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Southwest.

Other Los Angeles County observances Wednesday include "An Evening of Remembrance and Hope," scheduled at 5 p.m. in Beverlywood.

The program is planned to include a candlelight vigil, a discussion about healing and resilience, and the "Heroes of Truth" portrait exhibition by Limor Garfinkle. Proceeds from tickets will support a mental health center at Soroka Medical Center in Israel, according to the event listing.

The Jewish Federation Los Angeles is presenting a calendar of local Oct. 7 commemorations and educational resources, including survivor testimonies and documentaries about the attack, at jewishla.org/october-7-memorial.

City News Service