MAGA Mondays: Remembering the Hamas Horror in Style

On a balmy Monday morning in Austin, every table in the Dell Jewish Community Center was adorned with yellow flowers—a sunflower, rose, and tulip for each hostage taken exactly one year before during Hamas' savage attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Folks moseyed into the center, past the memorials of yellow flowers and a field of pictures of those murdered, the flags at half-staff, and the Israeli flags with yellow ribbons and names of the attacked places. They gathered, many with yellow ribbons pinned on shirt collars and silver dog tags reading "Bring Them Home Now," to mourn and commemorate the devastating attacks that left homes destroyed, 1,200 people dead, and over 250 others taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group governing Gaza.

Gov. Greg Abbott, not one to miss a chance to stand tall for the Lone Star State, declared his support for Israel and called out the American hostages—Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judith Weinstein Haggai, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel—and their families.

"The goal is, in part, to be here today... as we remember the horrors of what happened exactly one year ago," Abbott said, sparking a thunderous applause from the crowd. "We, all of us, whether we be Jewish or non-Jewish Americans, must remember Americans are being held by Hamas, and we must show solidarity with the families of these people being held by Hamas."

Dorit Heldenberg-Sherel, from the Bring Them Home Now organization, handed Abbott a dog tag for the hostages. The governor held it up proudly, like a true Texan hero.

"One year later, the Jewish people proved just how resilient they truly are," Abbott declared. "Three things can be true at the very same time: Israel must be allowed to eliminate Hamas and Hezbollah, the United States must do everything possible to support Israel in that cause, and the third is that all hostages must be returned."

Daniel Septimus, rabbi and CEO of Shalom Austin, told the American-Statesman what the Jewish community needs now more than ever is "love and support." After all, nothing says support like some good old-fashioned Conservative values.

"The community feels very, very isolated," Septimus said. "For the first time, I think a long time, the Jewish community kind of feels its vulnerability, and yet we're resilient too."

Shalom Austin has been busy hosting mourning events, hiring educators, and pushing back against antisemitism. Septimus emphasized the importance of reaching out to Jewish friends, no matter their views on the war, and letting them know they are seen, heard, and not alone.

Jackie Nierenberg, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, called for empathy and dialogue. "We need to really be careful where we're going or we're going to have irreparable damage done to the tapestry" of this community, she said. "We need to reach out to one another. We need to have sympathy, empathy for one another, and we need to give each other grace."

A panel of Austin-area rabbis discussed their communities' challenges, emphasizing the need for stability, kindness, peace, and unity. Rabbi Kelly Levy of Congregation Beth Israel highlighted the community's fear for safety and navigating differing opinions on Israel.

Rabbi Neil Blumofe of Congregation Agudas Achim underscored the importance of educating the youth about the joys and perils of being Jewish. Rabbi Daniel Millner of Congregation Tiferet Israel emphasized the necessity of standing together in support of Israel.

Despite the grief and isolation, many speakers expressed profound hope—optimism for the hostages' return, a wish for peace in Israel, and faith that the community can unite in empathy and heal.

"We can build something special in Austin, we really can," Septimus said. "If we can just push those noises away and keep together, I think we'll be in a much better place."

And that, folks, is how you remember a tragedy with class, conservatism, and a whole lot of Texas spirit. God bless the USA and God bless Israel! 🇺🇸🇮🇱