Moving Oct 7 commemoration in Melbourne
About 8,000 community members joined Zionism Victoria’s ‘Illuminate October’ commemoration in Moorabbin which commenced with the Walk of Light lantern procession.
Mark Dreyfus and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese carry lanterns
Members of the community made and carried over 1,600 lanterns, each dedicated to one of the victims.
The event was led by Zionism Victoria and Habayit, with many supporting community organisations, making it one of the largest events ever in the Victorian Jewish community.
This was the community’s major opportunity to demonstrate their solidarity with Israel at this extraordinarily stressful time, as well as coming together to support each other. The fate and welfare of the hostages remaining in Gaza, those under fire in Israel, as well as the many thousands displaced in Israel were on everyone’s minds.
The commemoration included performances by school and shule choirs, music industry personalities, and personal reflections from community members.
The very large audience included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC, with Senator Penny Wong being a late withdrawal from attending the event.
The organisers do not know why she failed to attend.
Zionism Victoria President Yossi Goldfarb told the assembled crowd that antisemitism had been allowed to fester by “weak and ambiguous expressions of our foreign policy that … have weakened social cohesion, leaving us to feel that the State of Israel has been abandoned as a natural ally of the Australian people”. This sentiment was endorsed by loud applause.
Member for Caulfield, David Southwick told J-Wire, “It was a moving event that brought together a heartbroken community with messages of peace and hope for the future. Whilst it is a shame that we do not feel safe enough to run a similar event in the city and invite the thousands of Victorians who stand with us, Victoria’s Jewish community must continue to stand together as one.”
President of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV), Rabbi Moshe Kahn told J-Wire, “The Jewish people possess incredible resilience, even in the depths of mourning. While our loved ones cry out for our brothers and sisters still in captivity, we maintain the ability to believe in a brighter future and a better tomorrow. As King Solomon said, ‘To everything, there is a time and place.’ Last night, thousands of us gathered to reflect, commemorate, and look forward with hope.”
Senior Rabbi of St Kilda Hebrew Congregation and Co-Vice President of RCV, Rabbi Yaakov Glasman, said, “Last night’s 7 Oct anniversary commemorative gathering was an incredibly unifying experience, albeit one marked with sadness and solemnity. It was an honour for the St Kilda Shule choir to sing a prayer for Israel.”
During the day, the Jewish Museum of Australia (JMA) opened its doors for free. The JMA invited the community to come together, hold space for one another and find connection in a place of reflection and hope. They invited the community to come and visit their Wall of Hope to leave a note of encouragement, solidarity or remembrance as all collectively build resilience, unity and the hope of a better tomorrow.
B’nai B’rith was one of the supporting organisations for the ‘Illuminate October’ event. Their members and friends created lanterns for 18 victims from Kibbitz Nir Oz, where a cousin of one of their members was kidnapped and later released. On 6 October B’nai B’rith had their annual memorial service at which they remembered B’nai B’rith members who have passed away. This year they had a special section of the service dedicated to the victims of 7 October, along with prayers for the hostages.
