wave of antisemitic crimes in the Metro 
Detroit area — including multiple 
neighborhoods littered with hateful 
flyers and the vandalism of the Max 
M. Fisher Federation Building in 
Bloomfield Township — could not keep more than 
4,000 members of the Jewish community away from 
attending a somber commemoration to mark the 
first anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre and terror 
attacks in Israel. 
Sponsored by the Michigan Board of Rabbis, 
“October Seventh — One Year Commemoration” 
was held at Congregation Shaarey Zedek (CSZ) in 
Southfield, the same place that welcomed the com-
munity for an emergency vigil just days after the 
2023 attacks.
As they were ushered into the building under 
tight security, attendees were given a sticker 
designed by the Jewish Agency for Israel featuring 
a painted picture of the kalanit — the national 
flower of Israel that has become a symbol of grief 
among the shrines of those killed at the site of the 
Supernova music festival. The stickers include the 
Hebrew word nizcor, we will remember. Everyone 
was also given a small card with the name and 
photograph a victim of the massacre or a fallen IDF 
soldier.

Attendees were also invited to write reflections 
about the past year on postcards to be delivered 
to the Jewish Federation of Detroit’s partnership 
region in Israel’s Central Galilee. 
CSZ Rabbi Aaron Starr, prior to welcoming the 
Michigan Board of Rabbis to the bimah for opening 
prayers, offered words of unity and strength. He 
urged the community to remember the victims, 
support the hostages and stand with Israel — rein-

forcing the message of unity and resilience.
One year ago, Rabbi Starr said, we gathered in 
this sacred space to make sense of the pogroms of 
Oct. 7. 
“We continue to try to process the loss of life and 
the suffering inflicted against us,” he added. “We 
continue to worry desperately about the remaining 
hostages, and we worry about our family who con-
tinues to be under attack.” 
Despite the pain, Rabbi Starr emphasized the 
resilience of the Jewish people, citing words from 
the Book of Exodus: ‘The more the Israelites were 
oppressed, the more they grew.’ 
“Here we are now, one year later, still sad and 
angry, but also incredibly emboldened. In addition 
to Israel’s war of self-defense, we’ve responded to 
our enemy’s senseless hatred by performing count-
less acts of unyielding love.”
After a moment of silence, members of the 
Michigan Board of Cantors performed “Acheinu,” a 
prayer for the release of the Jewish and other cap-
tives taken on Oct. 7.

IDF SOLDIER TELLS OF HIS EXPERIENCES
IDF reservist Alon Lachman began his relation-
ship with the Detroit Jewish community in 2014 
as a Tamarack camper and then a Shinshin (Israeli 

8 | OCTOBER 17 • 2024 
J
N

Thousands attend a commemoration of the Oct. 7 terror attacks.

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER | PHOTOS BY JOHN HARDWICK

OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER

Shaarey Zedek 
Rabbi Aaron Starr 
gave the opening 
address to the 
assembly.

in Grief and Strength