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Emmanuel Messianic Jewish Congregation
Traditional, yet modern
Jewish & Gentile, one in Messiah
Celebrating the Biblical Festivals of the Lord
Interfaith families are welcome here
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October 7: The Responsibility of Remembering
There are dates we remember because "something happened," as someone said about 9/11. And there are dates we carry because something within us changed.
October 7 is a date we carry and, like the Holocaust, must never forget.
We remember the Hamas-led terrorist attack of October 7, 2023: 1200-1400 Israeli Jews were brutally killed. Children were horrendously maimed. Hundreds were abducted and tortured.
When we say “October 7,” we must remember that every person who was killed or captured had a name. Someone knew their laugh. Someone expected them home. Someone still reaches for a telephone before remembering that the voice they long to hear will never answer again.
In Jewish life, remembering carries responsibility. We remember our slavery in Egypt each year at Passover. Torah reminds us to care for the stranger among us. We are called to remember those who suffer and are responsible for how we treat the vulnerable.
So what does remembering October 7 ask of us now?
It asks us to speak truthfully about the unspeakable evil committed that day. I don't need to recount the horrors that happened when Israelis were merely having a celebration and were brutalized by these Hamas monsters. I'm sure they will be mentioned in today's news if you don't already know the details.
October 7 asks us to resist denying the history of antisemitism, as so many do today, and standing against this anti-God attitude to confront antisemitism wherever it appears.
As a Messianic Jewish community, we follow Yeshua, who wept with those who mourned. His example encourages us to grieve and calls us to draw near. Sometimes the most beautiful thing we can say to someone who is hurting is, “I am here. You will not carry this alone.”
Today, may each of us make remembrance count. Call someone you know who is hurting. Reach out to someone who may be suffering. Challenge an antisemitic lie if you get the chance. Pray for Israel’s safety and for shalom so families can live without fear.
ADONAI, receive our tears. Comfort the bereaved. Strengthen those rebuilding shattered lives. Protect Israel and all who are threatened by violence. Give leaders wisdom, courage, and a commitment to justice. And, as DavidhaMelekh, King David, wrote, "Pray for shalom in Yerushalayim; may those who love you prosper" (Psalm 122:6).
May the memories of those we lost on October 7, 2023 be a blessing and may our lives help carry that blessing forward.
Shalom in Messiah,
Rabbi Barry
October 7 is a date we carry and, like the Holocaust, must never forget.
We remember the Hamas-led terrorist attack of October 7, 2023: 1200-1400 Israeli Jews were brutally killed. Children were horrendously maimed. Hundreds were abducted and tortured.
When we say “October 7,” we must remember that every person who was killed or captured had a name. Someone knew their laugh. Someone expected them home. Someone still reaches for a telephone before remembering that the voice they long to hear will never answer again.
In Jewish life, remembering carries responsibility. We remember our slavery in Egypt each year at Passover. Torah reminds us to care for the stranger among us. We are called to remember those who suffer and are responsible for how we treat the vulnerable.
So what does remembering October 7 ask of us now?
It asks us to speak truthfully about the unspeakable evil committed that day. I don't need to recount the horrors that happened when Israelis were merely having a celebration and were brutalized by these Hamas monsters. I'm sure they will be mentioned in today's news if you don't already know the details.
October 7 asks us to resist denying the history of antisemitism, as so many do today, and standing against this anti-God attitude to confront antisemitism wherever it appears.
As a Messianic Jewish community, we follow Yeshua, who wept with those who mourned. His example encourages us to grieve and calls us to draw near. Sometimes the most beautiful thing we can say to someone who is hurting is, “I am here. You will not carry this alone.”
Today, may each of us make remembrance count. Call someone you know who is hurting. Reach out to someone who may be suffering. Challenge an antisemitic lie if you get the chance. Pray for Israel’s safety and for shalom so families can live without fear.
ADONAI, receive our tears. Comfort the bereaved. Strengthen those rebuilding shattered lives. Protect Israel and all who are threatened by violence. Give leaders wisdom, courage, and a commitment to justice. And, as DavidhaMelekh, King David, wrote, "Pray for shalom in Yerushalayim; may those who love you prosper" (Psalm 122:6).
May the memories of those we lost on October 7, 2023 be a blessing and may our lives help carry that blessing forward.
Shalom in Messiah,
Rabbi Barry
Join Us for an Incredible Journey to Israel – March 2027
Imagine walking where Jesus walked, seeing the places we read about in Scripture, experiencing the beauty of Jerusalem and the Galilee, and sharing this incredible experience together with friends from our congregation. We are planning a 10-day journey to Israel, March 4–13, 2027, and we would love for you to join us!
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