Members of the USC community gathered Tuesday night to mourn the deaths of over 1,200 people killed during the Oct. 7 early morning attacks on Israel by Hamas, a militant Palestinian organization recognized by the U.S. as a terrorist group which governs the Gaza strip. Speakers at the vigil, organized by USC Hillel, USC Mishelanu, Chabad of USC and Trojans for Israel, expressed sorrow over the killings that targeted civilians.
The vigil included speakers, song and prayer as those participating embraced one another, shed tears, shared thoughts and expressed sorrow in solidarity with each other. Many donned blue and white clothes, and draped themselves in Israeli flags, in support of the people of Israel and victims of the attack.
Speakers led the vigil in the Mourner’s Kaddish, a prayer for the dead; a prayer for the state of Israel; as well as Mi Shebeirach, a prayer for healing.
Students such as master’s student Eli Kia were gathering to commemorate lives lost. “There’s so many people that have lost loved ones and lost friends. There are so many people that feel scared for their loved ones and friends. And so I’m here to show support to my community and to show that an attack on any Jew is an attack on all Jews,” Kia said.
USC Hillel Student president and senior Maya Grinstein shared her distress for those killed in the terrorist attacks. “Everyday I wake up and I think that it’s a dream, and then I am overcome with grief and emotion… It’s just such a senseless tragedy that took place.”
Grinstein, through tears, voiced her anguish during the vigil because many of her family members and friends are currently hiding in bomb shelters. She said she’s also horrified by the senseless violence on social media.
“When I open my phone and go on Instagram, I’m not worried about the vitriol I might receive, I’m not worried about the message of hate that I might stumble across,” she said. “I’m worried that someone in one of those videos might be my family.”
Partway through the vigil, a group of demonstrators in support of Palestine arrived across from Tommy Trojan and stood in silent recognition of those killed over the nearly 80 years of violence. The supporters held signs that read “Remember them too,” and “We’re silent to represent the silence of the world.” Most of their faces were obscured by masks.
“We believe that all lives matter, including Israeli and Palestinian lives matter; however, we need to remember that this has been happening for 75 years and not just the past week,” said Nour Myra, a junior international relations major. “All lives matter 100 percent, this is what we believe, and this is us saying remember them too.”
Ezra Judanin, an Israeli student and senior attending the vigil also extended his thoughts for both Israelis and Palestinians. “I just want everyone to know that my heart is with the Israeli people, the Israeli civilians, the innocent Israeli men, women, children and elderly that died over the past few days. My heart is also with the Palestinian people who have nothing to do with this or who are not part of Hamas and don’t support Hamas in any way.”
However, Judanin did not feel that the pro-Palestine demonstrators had a place at the vigil, and expressed his dismay at their decision to attend while hiding their identities. Judanin was part of a group that called for the silent demonstrators to take off their masks as they departed.
According to a statement from DPS, the university notified officers before the vigil that the silent pro-Palestinian demonstration would take place. “Both demonstrations were successful. It was peaceful. No arrests were made, and no one was injured,” said DPS Assistant Chief David Carlisle. “That makes it a good night.”
Dave Cohn, Executive Director for USC Hillel expressed his thankfulness for a newly released statement on President Carol Folt’s Instagram, posted just an hour before the vigil, that explicitly condemned the actions of Hamas. The updated statement on the terrorist attacks amended an earlier announcement which did not name Hamas at all, drawing widespread scrutiny from the USC community.