Hundreds Gather For Candlelight Vigil To Support The State Of Israel
On Sunday night 300 or more members of the community gathered on Jesup Green in front of the Westport Library for a candlelight vigil to show their support for the people of Israel and for the more than two hundred hostages, both Israeli and American who were kidnapped in the vicious attack by the terrorists of Hamas.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open galleries.
The Westport community always rises in response to tragic events such as the war in Ukraine and other occurrences which cause great pain and hardship, and Sunday night was one more example of that unity. As expected, there was a highly visible show of security led by Westport Chief of Police Foti Koskinas and backed up by CT State Police presence to insure the safety of all.
Opening remarks began from the Reverend Heather Sinclair, senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of Westport-Weston spoke of comfort and support.
Senior Rabbi Michael Friedman of Temple Israel (above, left) then welcomed the crowd and offered his personal reflections on the devastating attack on October 7th.
Rabbi Yehudah Kantor of Chabad Lubavich of Westport (above, right) then read from Psalms, 122: 6-9 in Hebrew and in English, the prayer for the well being of Jerusalem;
“May those who love you be at peace. May there be well-being within your ramparts, peace in your citadels.”
For the sake of my brothers and friends, I pray for your well-being; for the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I seek your good”
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open galleries.
Staples student Andrew Maskoff sang the national anthem of Israel. "HaTikva/The Hope“ and was joined by some members of the crowd. "As long as the heart within the Jewish soul yearns forward toward the East, an eye looks to Zion, our hope is not yet lost. Our hope is two thousand years old: To be a free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem”.
Next, Staples Ethan Walmark led the audience in singing our national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.
Andrew Collabella, Westport RTM member who organized the event along with Danielle Dobin, Westport P&Z chairwoman, spoke to WestportLocalPress about the goal of the nights gathering. Colabella said, "Tonight’s vigil was to bring peace to the Jewish community of Westport, the largest population of Jewish people in Fairfield county, to not only recognize the horrendous acts that have taken place over the last two weeks but bring solidarity to the community and remember the murdered and innocent lives being held captive. While I am not Jewish, I acknowledge the atrocities for centuries against such a peaceful and traditional bound religion constantly under attack. I hope tonights vigil positively impacted all to think clearer and have a better week".
After the program the three rabbis started to sing “Am Yisrael Chai”, The people of Israel Live, underscoring the focus on life and a song of peace - Oseh Shalom and were joined by some members of the crowd.
Following the remarks of the speakers, the crowd lingered finding comfort in each others presence as they spoke of friends and relatives here and in Israel who have been affected by the tragedy.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open galleries.
Sam Alloy of Westport proudly holds the Flag of the State of Israel.