Amelia Jane Sand/ Fourth Estate

Student organizations host Israeli Vigil on October 7, marking one year since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. President Gregory Washington speaks at the event. 

BY BARRETT BALZER, STAFF WRITER AND AMELIA JANE SAND, STAFF WRITER

Editor’s Note: Fourth Estate uses language in accordance with AP style guidelines. For more information on the use of the “Israel-Hamas war”, please visit the AP Stylebook. 

On Oct. 7, students gathered in Wilkins Plaza to attend the Israeli vigil observing the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war. The remembrance vigil was hosted by students from Mason Chabad, the Israeli Student Association (ISA), Mason Hillel and Students Supporting Israel at GMU. 

On Sept. 25, Mason Hillel made an Instagram post inviting the Mason community to the vigil. Described in their caption, the purpose of the vigil was to “mark the first anniversary of October 7th.”   

The vigil featured a long table decorated with plates, cups and yellow flowers with chairs holding pictures of the faces of several victims. The photos were accompanied with the names of the individuals and the words “kidnapped” or “murdered.” According to one organizer, the Shabbat table Installation was intended to represent those who were kidnapped, died or both during the first days of the Israel-Hamas war.

Amelia Jane Sand/ Fourth Estate

A giant Tzedakah box was placed at the end of the table nearest to Horizon Hall. The organizers handed out yellow shirts with a heart-shaped earth on them. 

Key speakers included Rabbi Daniel Novick and Rabbi Ezra. Additionally, Mason President Gregory Washington gave a speech addressing attendees. 

“By the Rev. Martin Luther King, darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that,” Washington said.

When asked about his attendance, Washington said, “I came out because the students asked and because it was a vigil. This was to help students mourn.”  

At the end of the vigil, Rabbi Ezra led the group in a song, Psalm 121, and instructed the attendees to cover their eyes with their right hand for the quick prayer. After, attendees passed out small yellow Tzedakah boxes at Wilkins Plaza, from Southside to the statue of George Mason next to the Johnson Center.