An Evening Of Remembrance - The City of Hallandale Beach Invited community members to an art exhibit to commemorate October 7th

It went off smoothly as Hallandale Police Department ensured safety as an estimated 150 to 200 persons attended the event that started shortly after 7 p.m. and ended about 2 hours later. The event commemorated the staunch resilience of the people of Israel to survive the unprovoked violence that occurred on October 7, 2023-truly a "day of infamy" like Pearl Harbor-and the continued aftermath involving the relentless shelling of Israeli cities by missiles of terrorists, Hamas, Hezbollah and other proxies of Iran.
In particular, the event highlighted paintings of 80 Israeli children ages 8, 9 and 10 as they expressed in a tangible way, in "The Light of Sderot: Worlds on Canvas," what was in their hearts and minds. These paintings ranged in tone from smiley faces to rainbows to scenes of a city besieged by missile attacks. Through paintings as therapy, kids expressed their feelings. "Alongside great pain there was always room for hope," a pamphlet noted.
An Evening of Remembrance was the brainchild of Hallandale Vice-Mayor Anabelle Lima-Taub who had been born in Israel and is fluent in Hebrew. Many from the audience seemed familiar with a prayer and comprehended the Hebrew language. Doctor Gershon Fink was a special honoree who spoke a prayer asking for the safe release of the hostages.
Doctor Gershon Fink is, in fact, a medical Doctor, according to Mayor Cooper.
The event took place October 14, 2024. It had been pushed back from a week before-October 7, the anniversary date of the terrorist attack due to Hurricane Helene.
Of the Hallandale City Commission, Vice-Mayor Lima-Taub took hold of the verbal reins as moderator, often preferring to ignore a pre-written speech to speak from the heart extemporaneously. And her inspired words on this emotive night flowed as from a spring of the soul. Also speaking eloquently with conviction were Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper and Commissioner Michele Lazarow.
Last March Anabelle Lima-Taub, and Commissioner Michele Lazarow personally had visited the now "Sister City" of Sderot, even staying at burnt-out homes of victims in a virtual “little ghost town” and braving the elements amid nearby missile attacks.
During their visit they presented this city with a key to the City of Hallandale Beach. Lima-Taub read a letter from the Vice-Mayor of Sderot which ended, “long live Israel. Together we shall win!” Anabelle mentioned how proud and amazed she was at seeing Commissioner Lazarow standing courageously against imminent danger. At the Remembrance, Commissioner Lazarow advised people to "be smart" and remain safe by avoiding dangerous confrontation while expressing their solidarity for Israel.
Honored was Florida State Senator Jason Pizzo who was awarded for his steadfast diligence in support of the Jewish State. Mayor Cooper declared October 7 to be Senator Pizzo Day. She expanded that time frame to October 14, as well.
Senator Pizzo referred to himself as "An Italian Irish kid from New Jersey who was blessed to have a Jewish godfather." He began by saying, "There is no generation where people have… had to hide who they are, where they are or what they are. This has never happened for another race, religion, culture or ethnicity..."
Senator Pizzo asked kids under 18 at the event to raise their hands. To the four youngsters who did so, he said, "My hope and my dream is that yours is the first generation that when you become adults, and you become parents that you carry one thing that the last generation had not been able to do-be absolutely proud and loud about who you are, where you are anywhere in this world." He noted the significance that of the world's 189 sovereign nations, that only one is a democratic Jewish State.
"Be absolutely proud and loud about who you are, where you are anywhere in this world!" -- Florida State Senator Jason Pizzo said to the children at "An Evening of Remembrance"
Also honored was Ernesto Ackerman, President of Independent Venezuelan American Citizens. He is the son of a Holocaust survivor who passed away in 2022 just before her 100th birthday.
Mr. Ackerman is not immune to the threat of enemy fire. As a five-year old in 1956, he was en route to visit uncles and was unaware– as then there was no internet-- of imminent danger. "Just as the ship set sail, we saw the entire city of Haifa go dark. All the lights went out and we saw Mount Carmel disappear before our eyes," he recalled. Like others present this evening, he noted the increasing antipathy toward Israel. "And now, the attention shifts away from the atrocity as if Israel should be blamed for protecting its people from such horrors from happening again. Emotively, he continued, "We must never forget, we must continue the fight for justice for our people, for erev (land of) Israel, and may the light of those we love/lost never be extinguished."
Lima-Taub corroborated this thought citing an example of courage where in 1982 Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin stood up to a US Senator, decrying, "I am not a Jew with trembling knees." He and Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt was awarded the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize.
A poignant video was shown of Siberian-born Tzippy Holland, educator and founder of Bridge of Love. Born in Siberia in 1940, she'd experienced the Holocaust. In the video, she implored the audience to stay vigilant as to the escalating Antisemitism happening worldwide, including at US universities.
"I know what is happening. The whole world thinks that it's only happening in Israel. It's not. Antisemitism is growing all over the world. And, in America...in all the universities in the cities, when you wake up in the morning, you can see the clouds of Antisemitism." -- Holocaust survivor, educator, Tzippy Holland
“In all the universities in the cities, when you wake up in the morning, you can see the clouds of Antisemitism." -- Holocaust survivor, educator, Tzippy Holland.
Ms. Holland continued with stark emotion, likely sending chills and tears to those present and surely to this newspaper reporter.
"Look at the drawings of these little kids. That instead of drawing flowers and beautiful scenery, they are drawing death. They are drawing unbelievable pain. I wish for them to be happy and healthy and to be able to get up in the morning and smile and dance and draw beautiful pictures." - Tzippy Holland
Vice-Mayor Lima-Taub offered her opinion as to the roots of Antisemitism. "What is the core that bothers people so much about 'pesky' Jews?" she asked. "Jealousy," a man from the audience blurted out. Lima-Taub noted that indeed, Jews are hated because of their "success." It seems noteworthy that as about 15 million people of Jewish descent occupy the earth, it seems a disproportionate number have excelled in many endeavors, including Art and Science. She also noted to be alert to the term, "Zionist," which has the connotation of "dirty Jew."
Toward the conclusion, many people were recognized for their outstanding contribution to organizing the event and supporting Israel. Mayor Cooper thanked the legion of non-Jewish folks who are good Samaritans, who helped with the event and supported Israel. She thanks the Hallandale Beach Police Department which she lauded as stalwarts for ensuring Safety for the local Jewish population.
A line of more than a dozen honored folks were welcomed onstage to copious applause from appreciative attendees.
Capping off the evening was a performance by the Miami Ensemble Israeli Music Band.
Moderator Lima-Taub effectively encapsulated the evening's premise as she said to the audience, "You come from a lineage of hundreds and thousands of years of survivors. This is the time to stand up. This is the time not to be quiet. This is not the time to be polite. We tried everything. Now is the time for us to stand up and speak up."
Oh, a final thought by Tzippy Holland and then by John Lennon:
"I still believe that we have a lot of good people around and the world is still good. And, that we can still change all this hate. Everybody should love everybody."
John Lennon famously sang, "All You Need Is Love."
Moderator Lima-Taub said of Florida Senator Jason Pizzo: "I have been great witness to his tremendous altruism and support in many ways to the Jewish community of South Florida."
Mayor Cooper expressed the relationship between terror attacks and the efforts of Florida State Senator Pizzo supplied to tend to their needs.
"Whereas of October 27, 2023, Hamas, the designated terrorist organization, launched an unprovoked attack on the State of Israel, causing great loss of life, displacement and terror among the Israeli citizenship, whereas the Jewish community in Florida was directly home to many families and deep connections in Israel was directly affected by this tragic event...
... "Senator Jason Pizzo has shown unwavering support for families of hostages affected by this brutal attack, standing in solidarity with them during their time of distress, offering critical emotion and logistic support and whereas Senator Pizzo's benevolence and advocacy was extended to the Jewish families in Florida, many who have found themselves in urgent need."
"In his dedication to the Jewish community as well as his steadfast commitment to promoting peace, safety and justice for all has been exemplary, setting standards for compassion and leadership in times of crisis."
Also, Orit Feigelman the Chair Person of “Reut Women” read a prayer to the audience which was received warmly.

To see photos from the event, visit:
https://issuu.com/suntimesnewspaper/docs/sun_times_11.07.24_webst/5?fr=sZmFlNjc5NDY1NDI