"AND YET..." A Message of Hope in the Words of Elie Wiesel per Town Supervisor Victoria Tipp

On Monday October 7, 2024, over 450 community members filled the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center for an October 7 Memorial program. Over 200 additional community members watched the program on live stream. The program was sponsored by the Town of New Castle Holocaust & Human Rights Committee and Horace Greeley High School's ENOUGH Club (Educate Now On Understanding Genocide & Hate) in partnership with the Antioch Baptist Church, Bet Torah Synagogue, Congregation B'nai Yisrael, the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, the First Congregational Church in Chappaqua, Temple Beth El, Temple Shaaray Tefila, and Horace Greeley High School's Jewish Student Union.

Ali Rosenberg and Stacey Saiontz, Co-Chairs of the Town of New Castle Holocaust & Human Rights Committee, began the evening by recognizing that during difficult times like these community brings us comfort and gives us strength to believe in a better future.

Eva Millerman, Co-President of ENOUGH explained that "We have seen antisemitism rise throughout our country and world. This is why the students of ENOUGH are committed to continuing to fight antisemitism and all hate wherever it arises by bringing speakers and educational programs to our fellow students and community members." Jared Saiontz, Co-President of ENOUGH added, "Today, Elie Wiesel's words echo louder than ever: Action is the only remedy to indifference: the most insidious danger of all."

The community listened to Nova Music Festival Survivor Maya Izoutcheev who shared her harrowing story of survival. Starting at 6:29 am, after spending the night in platform heels while working as a bouncer, Maya luckily changed into New Balance sneakers, which ultimately saved her life. For over six hours Maya dodged terrorists' bullets and missiles and ran for over four and a half hours to safety. The room was silent as Maya shared her story, minute by minute, and all were in awe of Maya's strength as she relieved her horrific experience. Despite her trauma, Maya shared that she still has hope for humanity and a better world.

Community member Alicia Sands, a friend of the Goldberg-Polin family, shared poignant words of remembrance about Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Alicia stated, "As someone who does not relish public speaking, I wish I weren't on this stage. But as a human being, I cannot believe that there is a reason for me to be up here, a year after the savage, unspeakable atrocities of Oct 7th, 2023. A year later, we are still waiting for 101 hostages, brutally stolen from their lives and their loved ones, to be returned."

Westchester Shaliach (youth representative from Israel) Eden Edrei, said "I arrived here a year ago, just before the holidays, and just before everything I know and call home changed. One year- 365 days, 14 holidays, and 1,400 people who will never return." When speaking about the incomprehensible loss of family and friends during the war, Eden emphasized that "These are not just numbers; this is not just another story in a history class. This is my present, and this is my future. This will forever be a part of me."

During the program, Cantor Ezring, Cantor Szterenberg, Cantorial Soloists Stark and West filled the room with their beautiful voices. The program included a memorial candle lighting followed by the reading of the October 7 Mourner's Kaddish led by Rabbi Jaffe, Rabbi Linzer, Rabbi Londy and Rabbi Ross. The Reverend Dr. Martha Jacobs and The Reverend Alan Christopher Lee shared a meaningful psalm.

Town Supervisor Victoria Tipp thanked the community for joining and reminded us about the importance of bearing witness. She also shared that Elie Wiesel's two favorite words "and yet" are important today as they serve as a symbol of hope. In the darkest of times, the human spirit can still say "and yet."

As the program concluded, the ENOUGH students handed out packets of seeds. Jared Saiontz, Co-President of ENOUGH said "The seeds serve as reminder that even when the world feels dark, we must continue to look for the light within each other and know that together we can triumph over hate.