Event memorializes 1,200 victims of 2023 terror attack on Israel, focuses public attention on remaining hostages
One year after the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel, the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples will host a community memorial service to honor the massacre’s nearly 1,200 victims and focus public attention on the more than 100 remaining hostages.
The event, which is open to the public, is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 7, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Temple Shalom, 4630 Pine Ridge Road in Naples. Advance registration is required at https://jfgn.regfox.com/october-7-we-remember.
“October 7 marked the deadliest day of violence against Jews since the Holocaust, with terrorists targeting unarmed civilians, the elderly, women, children and babies while gleefully livestreaming their victims’ executions on social media,” said Jeffrey Feld, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. “One year later, Jews and non-Jews alike will come together here in Southwest Florida to make sure we never forget those who perished in the attacks – and to keep public focus on the return of the remaining hostages, both those alive and those killed in captivity.”
More than 250 hostages were initially captured, divided roughly evenly between Israelis and foreigners. Of that cohort, 117 were returned alive to Israel, most through a prisoner exchange during a six-day temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in late November 2023.
Israeli officials believe that another 66 hostages remain alive, along with the bodies of 35 hostages who died in captivity.
The Oct. 7 event in Naples will feature representatives of the local Jewish community, political and civic leaders, and faith leaders from multiple denominations.
In 2023, just days after the Hamas attacks, an overflow interfaith crowd of more than 500 packed the Federation’s Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center in Naples for a community solidarity gathering.
With hundreds more also attending that event online, organizers scheduled this year’s event at Temple Shalom, which is located on the same campus, in anticipation of a similarly robust turnout.
In response to the outbreak of war, the local Jewish community contributed more than $1 million to an Israel Emergency Relief Fund managed by the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.
About Jewish Federation of Greater Naples
The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples is the thread that runs through the fabric of the Jewish community, its organizations and services, connecting the Jewish community. The Federation supports programs for Jewish people and the entire community in need in the greater Naples area, Israel and throughout the world, providing food for the hungry and counseling for the troubled, spearheading rescue and relief efforts for isolated Jews in distressed regions, and funding innovative Jewish educational and unity initiatives. The Federation creates a sense of community for thousands of Jewish residents in Greater Naples and its surrounding areas by creating and supporting programs to further Jewish learning, identity, pride and culture. Federation meets the challenge of providing for the needs of our Jewish brethren, wherever they may be, from young children and families to seniors. For information, visit jewishnaples.org, call 239-263-4205 or email info@jewishnaples.org.
