There are times to mourn and times to rejoice.
Two years ago, JEWISHcolorado convened the community in the wake of October 7th to mourn.
On Sunday, October 19, at “B’yachad, Together,” JEWISHcolorado reconvened the community to celebrate the return of all the living hostages, hold space for hostage remains not yet returned, and to pray for the future of Israel and the Jewish people and for those who still mourn.
As hundreds of people passed through the doors of Temple Emanuel Sunday evening, many expressed their personal and heartfelt reasons for coming to this gathering.
“I was in Israel on October 7th when the war broke out, and I have a lot of friends in Israel, so it’s been a very stressful couple of years. I don’t know that there will ever be closure for something like this. It was such a traumatic period in the lives of all Jews who are alive at this minute, and I think it will be a badge we always wear, but I’m thrilled that the living hostages are released. To come here is really my pleasure.”
“I was here at Temple Emanuel two years ago for the vigil after October 7. Being here tonight gives me some closure. I am here because I want to support the greater Jewish community, I want to support Israel, and I want to support the Denver Jewish community and JEWISHcolorado.”
“It was important for me to be here tonight because we have been watching and waiting and lighting a candle every Friday night and walking [with Run for Their Lives] on Sundays in Wash Park and communicating with families who live in Isarel who needed to have the return of the hostages. Now it has finally happened.”
Three candles
JEWISHcolorado President and CEO Renée Rockford and Board Chair Ben Lusher greeted attendees gathered inside Temple Emanuel. They ranged from teenagers to seniors, from families with young children to grandparents with grandchildren, from musicians and rabbis representing Jewish communities throughout Colorado to Colorado public officials, including Attorney General Phil Weiser.
“Tonight, we gather in sacred assembly, hearts full—with joy for lives returned, sorrow for the pain endured, and hope for healing still needed,” Rockford said. “We stand with gratitude for all those who have worked toward this moment.”
“We stand back at the beginning of the Torah—Bereshit—a time of many new
beginnings,” added Lusher. “Tonight, we will light three candles: lights that express our gratitude, lights that recall our grief, and lights that give hope for the future.”
JEWISHcolorado’s Shlicha, Nelly Ben Tal, led the five JEWISHcolorado Shinshinim in the lighting of the first candle representing gratitude.
“We light this candle in gratitude for the return of every hostage, for those whose captivity has ended,” read the Shinshinim. “We light it for families reunited and for the miracle of freedom.”
Rabbi Rachel Kobrin introduced the lighting of the second candle, lit by Jonathan Lev for “mourning and compassion.”
“For those we have lost—names whispered in our hearts, stories etched in our souls, remains of our loved ones not yet returned,” Rabbi Kobrin said. “May their memory be a blessing.”
To mark this moment of mourning, Cantor Devorah Avery sang the El Malei Rachamim Prayer and Rabbi Barry Gelman led everyone in the recitation of the Mourner’s Kaddish.
Finally—the third candle, this one to “ignite hope—hope that tomorrow will bring healing,” as Rabbi Joshua Margo said. Rabbi Margo, who is the President of Rocky Mountain Rabbis and Cantors, invited all the rabbis and cantors to join him in the lighting of the third flame. Rabbi Sarah Shulman led a prayer for peace. JEWISHcolorado’s Senior Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council Brandon Rattiner reminded everyone that there are many ways to become involved in the community after a period of shiva ends and mourners walk outside to re-enter the world.
“Today marks a transition,” Rattiner said. “What will your walk look like, and what can you do?”
Rattiner urged everyone to hold fast to their Judaism, step out of isolation into Jewish community, get trained in safety and security, make a financial contribution to Jewish organizations, and go to Israel.
Rabbi Elizabeth Sacks and Rabbi Emily Hyatt, both Senior Rabbis at Temple Emanuel, closed the program with a prayer for “the beginning of our action.”
“May we remember the dead with love, and may we honor the living with care,” they said. “May we never lose hope that light can rise again from the deepest dark.”
There were solemn prayers—but there was also joyful celebration at this B’yachad service. As the final strains of “Hatikvah” and “Am Yisrael Chai” rang through the building, people streamed out, fulfilled by what they had heard and sung and ready to share their thoughts and hopes for the future.
“This chapter has been a two-year long ordeal that everyone in Israel and in the United States Jewish community has been going through and to get to this point is an important step in this saga. It’s not over but it feels wonderful to have a positive event where we can be uplifted.”
“In this particular moment in time, we feel gratitude and relief for the hostages who have been released. When we come together like we did tonight, the strength of our community lifts us up and sustains us.”
“It was important for me to be here with my community during what I hope will now transition into a time of healing. We hurt together, we grieve together, and now my hope is that we will heal together.”