that Jews represent only 2.6% 
of the American population, 
but antisemitic acts represent 
60% of hate crimes in the U.S. 
“I do not have the power 
to remain silent in the face 
of global digital pogroms,” 
he said, describing “double 
standards and demonization” 
prevalent in today’s public 
discourse. “This is what 
hatred looks like. But we have 
power. This is not the 1930s. 
Be vocal. Do not be intimi-
dated,” he urged the audience.
Aya Margalit, an Israeli ele-
mentary school teacher who 
has been serving as a shliacha 
(Israeli emissary/ambassa-
dor) at Temple Emanu-El in 
Dallas, gave heart-rending 
descriptions of several hos-
tages — their smiles, their 

individual personalities and 
family connections. They 
were her students, friends, 
neighbors and relatives at 
Kibbutz Nir Oz, only 2 miles 
from the border with Gaza, 
along with others she knew 
who were captured at the 

music festival. 
On Oct. 7, she and her 
husband began receiving ter-
rifying alerts on a WhatsApp 
group from Israel. They 
struggled to grasp that their 
peaceful community had been 
brutally attacked. “I’m sorry if 

this is hard for you. I counted 
23 people I personally know 
including eight children. Keep 
them in your hearts,” Margalit 
asked the audience.
As individuals left the 
Adat Shalom parking lot, 
they passed a grassy median 

OUR COMMUNITY

continued from page 23

24 | NOVEMBER 16 • 2023 
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As each hostage’s 
name was read, an 
audience member 
would stand up 
holding their photo.

 Audience members listen 
to speaker Aya Margalit