United in grief and Zionism

Three years after 7 October, the community still needs opportunities to come together. To remember those lost, to be with people who understand, and to acknowledge how deeply that day and everything that followed have changed our lives. 

At the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) commemoration in Johannesburg on 7 October, the community came together for a moving evening of remembrance, unity, and solidarity with Israel. The shul was filled to the rafters, a powerful reminder of the community’s strength and the importance of showing up. 

Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein and Hen Feder, deputy chief of mission at the Israeli Embassy in South Africa, addressed the gathering, while moving performances by Shmuli Brill, Moshe Lichtenstein, and Jayden Fittinghoff gave expression to the grief, hope, and love for Israel that brought people together. 

They gathered to honour those murdered, the hostages who did not survive, and the soldiers who fell defending Israel and her citizens. They held in their thoughts the survivors and bereaved families whose lives remain profoundly changed. 

Keynote speaker Chaya Hexter shared the life of her son, Yakir, who fell in battle in Gaza in January 2024. Hearing about his creativity, his promise, and the future he should have had was a reminder of how a name alone cannot tell so much. 

That opportunity to know him continued through the Yakir’s Light exhibition, bringing together Chaya’s photography and Yakir’s art and architectural work. Every exhibition slot was fully booked. 

At the entrance, an artwork told another part of the community’s story. When all the hostages were finally home, people were invited to drop off the items worn in solidarity with them. These were brought together into a beautiful artwork, each piece carrying the hope and commitment of the person who had worn it. Together, they formed a lasting record of a community that refused to forget. 

SAZF national chairperson Craig Pantanowitz’s address brought home the responsibility we share: remembrance must continue beyond the anniversary. Returning home does not end a survivor’s recovery. A funeral does not end a family’s grief. The community must remain present when attention moves elsewhere. 

Pantanowitz spoke about the closeness many have felt to Israel, the comfort found in community, and the painful distance some have experienced from people they once trusted. He also acknowledged the friends, neighbours, and fellow South Africans who stood beside us. Their solidarity mattered and still does. 

Within our community, some returned to shul, began learning about their history, or sought people who understood their feelings without explanation. Those who describe themselves as “October 8th Jews” have brought renewed energy to Jewish life. Whether that connection has guided someone since childhood or deepened more recently, everyone belongs equally. 

Pantanowitz’s affirmation of Zionist pride was unequivocal. Zionism expresses the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in our ancestral homeland. Attempts to turn that word into a slur will not weaken Jews’ connection to Israel. They want their children to say, “I am a Zionist” as openly as “I am a South African”, with the knowledge to understand their identity and the confidence to express it. 

Nurturing that confidence is an ongoing responsibility. It means creating opportunities to learn, strengthening relationships with Israel, and supporting those who face hostility because of their Jewish or Zionist identity. 

The evening reminded attendees of the resilience of the community and the Jewish nation, and of what they can sustain when they stand together. Together, we honour those lost, cherish the Jewish life we share, and give the next generation the confidence to shape a strong Jewish future. 

• Angie Segal is head of media for the South African Zionist Federation.