UVM students led a vigil service to reflect on the one-year anniversary of October 7th, at the Waterman Memorial Lounge, according to an Oct. 2 Instagram post from UVM Hillel.
The Memorial was held in light of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages being taken, according to an Oct. 7 AP News article.
The vigil service included readings, prayers, stories and a space to reflect, said Matt Vogel, executive director of UVM Hillel. Around 150 people attended this event, according to the UVM Police Services.
“This is overwhelming in the most tragically beautiful way possible to see everyone here tonight,” said Matt Vogel, executive director of UVM Hillel. “So please take a moment with me and look around at the community that’s gathered here tonight.”
The vigil service began with a prayer led by Rabbi Chani Wilhem, co-founder of Chabad at UVM, followed by readings from UVM students from both the Torah and Jewish literature.
A large number of attendees were not UVM students and staff, Vogel said. They introduced themselves to students and engaged in conversations regarding their community, he said.
“To see so many people show up for the community is very lovely,” said junior Hadley Kalson, UVM Hillel’s president.
First-year Sam Christy said events like this one are a means of education and are also a way to connect with one’s identity.
“The primary reason I’m here is to become more connected to the community and to become more educated on multiple sides of the event,” said Christy. “So I can gain my own comprehension of what all this means to me as a Jew.”
Vermont resident David Punia said it is important to him that the UVM students who attended feel like they are a part of a community bigger than just themselves.
Punia said that the Burlington Jewish community shows up for each other.
“I hope [students] will take that to heart,” said Punia. “And lean on us if they need to, in addition to leaning on each other, as I know they do.”
Hillel, Chabad and Students Supporting Israel planted 1,200 Israeli flags outside of the Davis Center to symbolize the 1,200 people killed, said junior Max Abrahams.
They also tabled on the Andrew Harris Commons to commemorate one year since the October 7th attacks.
“I put on a Tallis, which is like a prayer shawl, and I wrapped tefillin,” Abrahams said. “I said the Mourner’s Kaddish as well. I said that in the morning, and I said it just when I got here. It’s both internal reflection and acts of remembrance.”
Vogel was also present at the demonstration for most of the day.
“I think generally speaking, the tone has been really respectful,” he said.
Abrahams has personal connections to those lost on October 7th, which affects how he grieves, he said.
“The grief that I feel is not the same grief as someone who’s not connected to this situation,” he said. “It’s 1,200 individual worlds that were taken that day.”
