Thirty days after the horrific massacre on Simchas Torah, an emotional shloshim ceremony was held at the Kosel with the lighting of 1,400 candles, one for each victim, and songs by Yaakov Shwekey.
In a poignant ceremony commemorating the shloshim since the horrific massacre on Simchas Torah, 1,400 memorial candles were lit this evening at the Kosel in Yerushalayim.
The emotional gathering took place Monday night at the Western Wall Plaza, attended by dozens of bereaved families and the organization “Together We Prevail.” During the event, 1,400 memorial candles were kindled in memory of the victims of the horrific attack of Simchat Torah – October 7th. The event was attended by Israel’s Minister of Defense Benny Gantz.
The families were joined by hundreds from cross the country and diverse segments of Israeli society. Together, they sang heartful songs in memory of the fallen, accompanied by the singer Yaakov Shwekey.
Tehillim in memory of the victims was recited by Rabbi Eitan Eisman, grandfather of Noam and Yishay Slotki, who were killed while battling terrorist on Simchas Torah; Yossi Rivlin, the brother of Aviad and Gideon, who were killed in a terrorist attack in Re’im; and Amihai Resler, the father of Dvir, a soldier in the Golani Brigade who fell in the line of duty. Hashem yikom damam!
Kaddish in memory of the fallen was recited by Lieutenant Colonel (res.) Dedi Shimchi, former Commissioner of Fire and Rescue, who lost his son Guy during the conflict. Immediately afterward, the Cantor of the IDF, Shai Abramson, recited “Kel Malei Rachamim”.
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites, offered a tefillah for the safe return of the hostages. Following him, the Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion, recited a tefillah for the well-being of the IDF soldiers and security forces.
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Rabbi of the Western Wall, addressed the bereaved families: “The 1,400 candles we are lighting here are not just memorials for each of the victims. They are also a reminder to each of us that the lights that have been extinguished here—we will light them again. This is our eternal mission: to kindle a new light from an extinguished one, to bring light to the darkest places.”
VIDEO: Shwekey Sings at Kosel Memorial
VIDEO: Kel Molei Rachamim at the Memorial
VIDEO: Full replay
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