Memorial to mark second anniversary of Oct. 7

Jewish students from Yorktown High School are helping organize a memorial to mark two years since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel.

The event is sponsored by Lights of Tomorrow, the Justice Brandeis Law Society, Chabad of Yorktown and Faces of October Seventh. It is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 29, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Albert A. Capellini Community and Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce St.

Keynote remarks will be delivered by Oriya Ness Berlin, a survivor of the Re’im Base attack, with additional remarks from Yoni Asayag, an American lone soldier.

Attendance requires advance registration through a Google form at lightsoftomorrow.org. Security will be in place. Questions can be directed to lightsoftomorrow28@gmail.com.

Yorktown HS senior Talia Pierson said she and fellow organizers are “grateful” for the support shown by the Town Board last year, when they marked the first anniversary of the attack.

“It's going to be a really meaningful evening of remembrance again, and a chance for everyone in the community to bear witness to both the stories of horror of Oct. 7 and those of resilience and heroism,” she said, encouraging members of the Town Board and wider community to attend.

“We hope for the Town Board support again in sharing this with the community; we hope that all of you will join us and ensure that our community and the world doesn't forget what took place on that day.”

The Town Board gave the students a standing ovation after their comments, and Supervisor Ed Lachterman told Pierson he is “so impressed” by the work she is doing and thanked her for recognizing the town for its efforts.

“It’s so important to have our youth do this,” Lachterman said. He added that the town will hold a candlelight vigil, which he believes “should happen until every hostage is free.” Details will be announced on the town’s website.

“Thank you, guys, for being an inspiration.”

Millie Jasper, executive director of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center, also spoke at the meeting. She said her work “is all about education,” citing acts of antisemitic vandalism in town.

She suggested the town consider programming geared toward students in sixth grade and older, such as the film “Testimony to the Human Spirit,” which focuses on six Holocaust survivors who lived in Westchester County. Three of the survivors have since died. Jasper encouraged the board to bring the film into a large setting, followed by a moderated discussion for parents and students.

“Empathy is putting yourself in someone else's shoes and looking at life through their eyes, and that's what we want to do,” she said. “I'm here to ask you to consider building programs like that that people can attend with their students.”