Beverly Hills’ flag installation to honor the victims of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack in Israel will be in Beverly Gardens Park through Oct. 14. (photo courtesy of the city of Beverly Hills)

Oct. 7, 2024, will mark the first anniversary of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the history of the Jewish people. It also marks one year since a violent new wave of antisemitism began to scorch the globe.

The repercussions of that day, and the year that followed, are still being felt by the Jewish people of Los Angeles – home to the second largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Given the shared trauma the community has endured, it is coming together in unified response to honor the memory of those lost, pray for the hostages who still need to come home and show the city and the world that light shines stronger than darkness.

The city of Beverly Hills recently installed 1,400 flags to honor the victims of the Oct. 7 attack. The flags will remain on display in the one-block square of Beverly Gardens Park, temporarily renamed “Oct. 7 Memorial Square,” until Oct. 14. The memorial is located at 9439 Santa Monica Blvd.

Events and tributes will take place over a 24-hour period starting the evening of Oct. 6 at the Museum of Tolerance and commencing on the evening of Oct. 7 with a special night at the Saban Theatre organized by Jewish Federation Los Angeles and partners at Israeli-American Council and StandWithUs.

“As we prepared to honor this solemn day of reflection and remembrance, it was vital that we do so together – as one united Los Angeles community, one family. We will continue to keep the memory of those we lost in our hearts and stand in solidarity with the hostages and their families until they are all home,” JFEDLA president and CEO Rabbi Noah Farkas said. “These events have been organized with our partners to show that despite the tragedy of Oct. 7, we remain and will forever be a resilient, hopeful, and united people.”

“The tragic events on and since Oct. 7 represent the most difficult time in Jewish history since the end of the Holocaust,” StandWithUs founder and CEO Roz Rothstein said. “Not only are Israelis impacted, but Jews around the world feel the ongoing collective shock and loss connected to our hostages still being held by Hamas terrorists, and the soldiers and nation of Israel still engaged in war. Coming together to commemorate Oct. 7 offers all of us an opportunity to gather strength as we share a sense of community that supports Israel and fights to keep the faces of the hostages front and center in everyone’s hearts until they all come home to their families.”

The Museum of Tolerance is located at 9786 W. Pico Blvd.

The Saban Theatre is located at 8440 Wilshire Blvd.

For information, visit jewishla .org.