LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The faces of Israeli hostages, some since launched, watched over a celebration within the sanctuary of Nevada’s largest reformed congregation.
On Tuesday, Congregation Ner Tamid held a conventional ceremony recognizing the top of the excessive holy day season whereas additionally celebrating the discharge of the final 20 remaining residing hostages.
“We just want people to know that we are proud to be Jewish here in the Las Vegas valley,” Rabbi Cookie Lea Olshein, resident rabbinic scholar at Congregation Ner Tamid, mentioned. “We don’t want to hide.”
Olshein mentioned previously few years the synagogue has enhanced their safety including fencing and safety guards across the property because of the state of worldwide affairs, however added it’s essential for the neighborhood to know the congregation remains to be there.
“We’re proud to be in service to the Las Vegas community, not just the Las Vegas Jewish community,” she mentioned.
Throughout the ceremony, Olshein positioned a yellow pin, a token reminder of the Oct. 7 assault and hostages taken, inside a basket on stage in entrance of the congregation. Standing close by, Rabbi Jessica Hutchings reduce off an arm band reminder of the assault, and in variety with Olshein, positioned it within the basket.
“I’ve been wearing this band around my arm for the last two years that says in Hebrew ‘until they are all here, we are there,’” Hutchings mentioned. “But some people don’t feel that they’re ready to cut it off, because we still have 24 people who are there, even though they’re no longer living.”
The congregation rose to their ft on the finish of the ceremony to mark the top of the holy day season and carried the Torahs by the sanctuary.
“I think there have been a lot of attacks on the Jewish community recently, and we can’t be negligent to the fact that we could be next,” Jack Brislin, a 14-year member within the synagogue, mentioned. “I think protecting ourselves in this crucial moment in time is one of the most important parts.”
Brislin mentioned watching the information of the reuniting of some households in Israel introduced a sure sense of reduction amid the rising concern of antisemitism.
“It’s very tragic knowing that’s how their life has been in the past two years,” he mentioned. “But knowing that their families waited for them for two years and they’re finally reunited has brought a great sense of comfort to my life.”
