A community member lights a “candle of hope” during the Interfaith Ceremony for Unity and Peace on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at Coral Gables City Hall.
Alie Skowronski
askowronski@miamiherald.com
Residents, city officials and religious leaders across Coral Gables gathered this week in prayer to remember the lives lost in the latest war between Israel and Hamas.
This Oct. 7 marked two years since Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages, which sparked the war. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed about 68,500 Palestinians since then, according to Gazan health authorities.
Monday’s remembrance ceremony in the courtyard of City Hall was held a few weeks after the announcement of a U.S.-negotiated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The interfaith service was initially going to be held on Oct. 7, but scheduling conflicts among faith leaders related to a Jewish holiday and disagreements on how to properly honor victims delayed the initial plans.
The “interfaith ceremony was a moving reminder of the power of community and compassion. What began as a moment to remember the hostages and the tragedy of October 7 became a gathering rooted in peace and hope,” reads a statement by Mayor Vince Lago, who sponsored the initial resolution to host a vigil service. “While I continue to stand with Israel and all those affected by violence, I’m deeply grateful to our faith leaders and residents who came together to show that unity and understanding can guide us forward.”
Here are some snapshots of the Gables ceremony:
Two community members light “candles of hope” during an interfaith service to remember the lives lost in the war between Israel and Hamas and to celebrate the recent release of hostages on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at Coral Gables City Hall. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Haleemah Ahmad reflects in the back during the Interfaith Ceremony for Unity and Peace on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at Coral Gables City Hall. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Rev. Dr. Laurinda Hafner, right, service leader, talks to an attendee after the Interfaith Ceremony for Unity and Peace on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at Coral Gables City Hall. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Coral Gables Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson lights a “candle of hope” while Mayor Vince Lago and city commissioners Melissa Castro, Richard Lara and Ariel Fernandez wait their turn during the Interfaith Ceremony for Unity and Peace on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. The interfaith service, with prayers by a reverend, imam, pastor and rabbi, was held to remember the lives lost in the war between Israel and Hamas and unite the community with prayers of peace. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Community members and local leaders attend the Interfaith Ceremony for Unity and Peace on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at Coral Gables City Hall. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
A woman prays after lighting a “candle of hope” during the Interfaith Ceremony for Unity and Peace on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at Coral Gables City Hall. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
A community member lights a “candle of hope” during the Interfaith Ceremony for Unity and Peace on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at Coral Gables City Hall. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
“Candles of Hope” lit by community members and local leaders sit burning during the Interfaith Ceremony for Unity and Peace on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at Coral Gables City Hall. The interfaith service, with prayers by a reverend, imam, pastor and rabbi, was held to remember the lives lost in the war between Israel and Hamas and to unite the community with prayers of peace. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 1:04 PM.
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Michelle Marchante covers the pulse of healthcare in South Florida and also the City of Coral Gables. Before that, she covered the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, crime, education, entertainment and other topics in South Florida for the Herald as a breaking news reporter. She recently won first place in the health reporting category in the 2025 Sunshine State Awards for her coverage of Steward Health’s bankruptcy. An investigative series about the abrupt closure of a Miami heart transplant program led Michelle and her colleagues to be recognized as finalists in two 2024 Florida Sunshine State Award categories. She also won second place in the 73rd annual Green Eyeshade Awards for her consumer-focused healthcare stories and was part of the team of reporters who won a 2022 Pulitzer Prize for the Miami Herald’s breaking news coverage of the Surfside building collapse. Michelle graduated with honors from Florida International University and was a 2025 National Press Foundation Covering Workplace Mental Health fellow and a 2020-2021 Poynter-Koch Media & Journalism fellow. Support my work with a digital subscription
