Museum of Tolerance, other LA venues, host events marking anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel

Ahead of the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the Museum of Tolerance Los Angeles will host an evening of remembrance, reflection and recognition on Sunday.

Events and tributes will take place over a 24-hour period starting at 7 p.m. Sunday with a reception, program and candle-lighting to coincide with the exact moment of the Oct. 7 attacks — continuing Monday with a special program at the Saban Theatre organized by the Jewish Federation Los Angeles, Israeli-American Council, StandWithUs and Temple of the Arts.

“As we prepared to honor this solemn day of reflection and remembrance, it was vital that we do so together — as one united Los Angeles community, one family,” Rabbi Noah Farkas, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation Los Angeles, said in a statement. “We will continue to keep the memory of those we lost in our hearts and stand in solidarity with the hostages and their families until they are all home. These events have been organized with our partners to show that despite the tragedy of October 7th, we remain and will forever be a resilient, hopeful, and united people.”

Elsewhere, a coalition of organizations have set a 4 p.m. memorial ceremony Sunday at the corner of Pico Boulevard and Roxbury Drive followed by a Torah inauguration at 5 p.m. and a “We Will Dance Again” block party at 6 p.m.

On Monday, the Jewish Federation Los Angeles will host “L.A. Remembers” in honor of the one-year anniversary. The event is billed as a way to “remember the victims, honor the resilience of survivors, stand in solidarity with the hostages and look toward a more hopeful future.”

“Coming together to commemorate October 7th offers all of us an opportunity to gather strength as we share a sense of community that supports Israel and fights to keep the faces of the hostages front and center in everyone’s hearts until they all come home to their families,” Roz Rothstein, founder and CEO of StandWithUs, said in a statement.

In attendance will be actress Mayim Bialik, Israeli actress Moran Atias, Israeli performer Raviv Kaner and more than 30 elected officials including Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks. There will also be a candle-lighting ceremony and speeches from relatives of hostages.

The event will be livestreamed at form.jotform.com/JFedLAForms/LARemembers-waitlist.

Additionally Monday, Beverly Hills community leaders, elected officials, religious leaders and residents will gather at the city’s Israel Flag installation for a 6 a.m. commemoration of the one-year anniversary as well. Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman and council members John Mirisch, Mary Wells and Craig Corman are expected to attend.

Meanwhile, IfNotNow Los Angeles will hold a gathering at Grand Park on Monday at 6 p.m., which they say will be attended by “hundreds of American Jews” to honor the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, and the ensuing “brutal collective punishment by the Israeli government” over the past year. The event is intended to “remind elected officials and fellow Americans that violence is antithetical to Jewish values and that it will never keep any of us safe.”

Southern California events mark the 1-year anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel and war in Gaza