The West Hartford-based organization ‘Greater Hartford for Israel’ organized the communal event, which was held Thursday night.

By Manon L. Mirabelli

In a matter of just 12 or so hours, Ari Schaffer and the leaders of Emanuel Synagogue mobilized members of the Jewish community to gather at the synagogue Thursday evening to pay homage to the Bibas family, hostages held in Gaza whose bodies were released Thursday.

Except it was learned later in the day, that the body of Shiri Bibas, the mother who, along with her husband and two young sons, was abducted by Palestinian militants more than 500 days ago, was replaced with that of an unknown woman. Shiri Bibas’ husband, Yardern Bibas, was released alive last week.

The body of Oded Lifshitz, a grandfather and peace activist, was also released.

Enlarged images of Shiri, her young sons, Ariel and Kfir, as well as that of Lifshitz, were displayed during the vigil in the synagogue where Jews of all ages mourned not just their loss, but supported one another in their deep grief.

The gathering was planned for the synagogue’s smaller chapel, but as more and more members of the Jewish community arrived, the observance was moved to the larger chapel. In all, nearly 200 people turned out in support of the hostages, the dead, and one another.

Schaffer, who founded the grassroots organization Greater Hartford for Israel in January 2024 to support Israel and combat antisemitism in the Greater Hartford area and around Connecticut, said the emotional event, that attracted so many people on such short notice, was a testament to the power of strength and resilience amidst tragic circumstances.

“I was inspired to see so many people turn out on such short notice to mourn and grieve together on the one hand, and to strengthen each other on the other,” he stated. “The attempted mass bus bombing by Hamas today and their replacing of the body of Shiri Bibas with an unknown person shows the depths of the evil they represent. No one, not in Israel, not in Gaza, the West Bank, or any countries in the region, will have peace as long as Hamas exists. The fight against Hamas and all those who likewise hate the values of freedom, liberty, and tolerance will be a long and difficult one.”

Jacob Schreiber, executive director of Emanuel Synagogue, noted how difficult it is to wake up every day and have to look at reports of how the people of Israel are treated and the horror of what it means to be a hostage.

It was horrors like those, he added with tears in his eyes, that drew the large crowd on short notice.

“In less than 12 hours people came out in the freezing cold because they needed to do something to be together and comfort each other.”

For Roberta Buland and Marcia Waitzman, attending the vigil was a way of trying to understand the events that have transpired since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

“I need this community to explain to me what’s going on,” she said, and asserted that “Israel did not start this war.”

Waitzman said those who gathered for the Thursday evening vigil are just a small fraction of those who are mourning the Bibas family.

“Jews everywhere in the world are grieving this loss,” she said. “If one Jew in the world is in trouble, we are all in trouble.”

As the people moved from the small to the larger chapel within the synagogue, Deborah Zuckerman said she was not surprised by the overwhelming response.

“This is a day of prayer for the 503 days of horror,” she said. “This is a tight community.”

Rabbi David Small said the turnout “speaks to the solidarity of our community and the terrible events that strike our hearts.”

Congregant Tali Kest said the Bibas family stands as “a symbol of hope for Jewish people both in Israel and the community, and Jews around the world feel heartbroken.”

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