PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Hundreds gathered for a vigil Monday night at Fairmount Water Works honoring the 1,200 people killed one year ago in Israel, the hostages that remain in captivity and all those killed since.
“We know that the grief we are experiencing now is making ripples around the world and here in Philadelphia,” said Simi Toledano, who led the vigil.
There were prayers, psalms, music and speakers from the Jewish and Palestinian communities who mourned the devastation and called for a ceasefire.
Displayed on a white and purple banner on a large tree at the center of the vigil was a sign that read, “Every life, a universe.”
“Whoever destroys a life destroys an entire world,” said Sukey Blanc of IfNotNow, an organization that believes Jewish safety is dependent on the liberation of Palestinians.
“...What we are doing today is grieving every life taken.”
Blanc said Monday’s vigil was a mourning ritual based on a Jewish tradition called Yahrzeit — the anniversary of the death of a loved one.
As the vigil wound down, participants formed a circle, symbolically measuring the graves of the dead — in this case, the more than 45,000 dead Israelis, Palestinians and Lebanese — and made wicks for candles to honor the lives lost.
“We remember the Israelis who were killed October 7th because it's important. They were people, they were souls taken away from us,” said Sam Kuttab, who is part of Philadelphia Palestinians and Prayers for Peace.
Organizers are planning another event Tuesday night at City Hall. It’s a peace action calling for the end of the conflict and honoring the 41,000 killed in Gaza.