A Hope for Peace and the Return of Hostages

By Theresa Racine

Tuesday, October 7 marked the second anniversary of the horrific attacks on Israel by terrorist organization Hamas. About 1,200 people were killed and about another 250 were taken hostage on October 7, 2023. The event marked the bloodiest day in Israel’s history and the deadliest event for Jews since the Holocaust. In Rockaway, on Sunday, October 5, the local Jewish community commemorated the anniversary for the second time with a Surf for their Lives event on Beach 108th Street featuring a ceremony and a traditional memorial paddle out to pray for the fallen and hope for the return of the remaining hostages.

As hopes for a deal to return the remaining hostages become closer to reality, Oshri Shalmoni, the organizer of Rockaway’s event, wanted it to be more of a celebration and not just a commemoration of what happened that horrific day two years ago. It is believed there are 48 hostages remaining. Two of them include Americans, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra Z”L. However, it is believed that only about 20 of the remaining hostages are alive, and families are still awaiting the return of their loved ones, or at the very least, their bodies.

For Shalmoni, the attacks on October 7, and the events after are deeply personal. He held this year’s ceremony in memory of his cousin, Yuvai Halivni, who left behind a wife and young children. While Halivni was not killed or taken during the initial attack, he was a part of the Israeli Army, and fought to protect innocent civilians from terrorists, ten minutes from his home, in the hopes that another similar tragedy would never occur again. Halivni was killed in a gun fight with Hamas on October 9, 2023. “This is not a Marvel movie, this is a story of real-life superheroes fighting to save the world,” Shalmoni said.

Sunday’s beach commemoration began with a dance, choreographed by Theresa M. Racine, who used streamers and praise flags to send a message of peace, deliverance, faith and love. She danced to “Adonai,” a prayer sung in Hebrew and Arabic. Racine encouraged everyone to grab a streamer and join in as she spoke words of intention over each participant.

With American and Israeli flags and white flowers, surfers entered the waves for a traditional memorial paddle out. Among the surfers was Aaron Sand, a rock artist who grew up in Armonk, NY. Sand is no stranger to loss as he lost his father in the terror attacks on 9/11, closer to home. As someone who is Jewish, Sand said the October 7 attacks felt personal, as another attack by extremists on his people. He showed up with his board with the hope that radicalism and antisemitism can be something of the past, and that the hostages can finally be brought home. He was joined by swimmer, Shane Kulman, known as Rockaway’s Enchantress, who was thankful to the organizers for the beautiful event, done with such care. Many others shared sentiments about their fears since the October 7 attacks, but they felt it was important to show up.

As the surfers threw flowers up in the air, so did other attendees from the beach. They were then handed about 20 white birds to release into the sky, with the hope that the remaining hostages will also be released, and there can be peace for Israel and the world.

Photos by Katie McFadden and Theresa Racine.