South Florida remembers October 7. Here’s a look at the Broward memorial
Nearly 700 people gathered on Sunday in Davie to honor lives lost, pray for peace and stand in solidarity with the Jewish community two years after the deadly October 7 attacks in Israel.
The communitywide event, organized by the Jewish Federation of Broward County in collaboration with 70 partner organizations and synagogues, marked the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and took another 250 hostage, some of whom are still held captive today.
Since that day, being Jewish has changed, said Audra Berg, president & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Broward County.
“October 7 was not just an attack on Israel, it was an assault on the Jewish people everywhere,” she told the Herald. “It shattered a sense of safety that many Jews, especially in America, had felt was finally secure.”
The attacks led to a rise in antisemitism in America and throughout the world, reshaping Jewish life for many. Over half of Jewish Americans, according to the Anti-Defamation League, experienced some type of antisemitism over the past year and 57 percent believe that antisemitism is now a normal Jewish experience.
Remembering that dark day sparks a range of emotions for Jews, said Berg. She describes it as layers of “grief, outrage, and profound loss, but also resilience, pride, and an unbreakable sense of peoplehood.”
As Jews carry the weight of October 7, the community also came together to “choose life,” Berg said.
South Florida has one of the largest and most diverse Jewish communities in the country, and has come together in the wake of October 7. Berg pointed out that thousands of residents gathered at vigils and solidarity events, provided support for Israel and South Florida itself became a safe haven for displaced Israelis.
“Out of heartbreak, we’ve seen a deeper sense of unity and shared purpose,” she said.
In Miami-Dade, a host of commemorative events are taking place throughout the month of October to honor the victims.
Scott Kaufman, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, said that many Jews in South Florida have a close connection to Israel, further strengthening the community’s bond to the small country. He recalls something the late Rabbi Sholom Lipskar, a Chabad rabbi and founder of The Shul of Bal Harbour, said to him during an exhibition on the Nova Music Festival, the site of the Hamas attacks.
He said, “while it’s important to memorialize the dead and remember victims, we can’t be defined as a people by things other people do to us. In a sense, in my words, he was saying, we can’t be a victim culture. We have to be strong.”
Kaufman said in the two years since October 7, the Federation has had an increase in applicants for jobs, despite the increase in anti-Jewish incidents throughout the country. It may be a reflection of how the tragedy has sparked a wider return-to-faith moment for Jews.
“Some of it is feeling a sense of vulnerability and wanting to be part of something greater than themselves, and some of it is a reminder of what matters in life. Relationships with people and ethics and family,” Kaufman said.
Miami is also a place with many non-Jewish friends who are allies of the community, he said. They have also been widely supportive since the tragedy, including local law enforcement, which provide security during high holidays and other large gatherings at Jewish organizations.
“The law enforcement here from all the various municipalities where we’ve had events, it’s been incredibly supportive, collaborative works with our team. They’ve just been great.”
This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
