Three years have passed since October 7, 2023, yet it still feels remarkably close.

The trauma remains. The grief remains. For Israelis and Jews around the world, the sense of vulnerability remains. And after years of war and conflict, so does the heartbreak that comes from knowing that war continues to ravage the region.

That day shattered lives and families and the status quo — whatever it was before October 7. It shook Israel’s sense of security. It unleashed a wave of antisemitic acts that many Jews never imagined they would experience in their lifetimes. And it changed the way many of us move through the world.

I was not yet in Baltimore on October 7, but since my arrival, I have come to understand just how deeply that day became woven into the story of this community. I have heard the stories of where people were when the news broke. I have seen the relationships our community holds with family and friends in Israel. And I have witnessed the extraordinary response that followed. The Baltimore Jewish community mobilized with generosity, urgency and love. We rallied around Israel, supported those in need and strengthened one another during a time of uncertainty and pain.

Building Connections

I often say that the distance between Baltimore and Israel is measured in heartbeats, not miles. Since October 7, I have seen that truth come alive again and again. At the same time, the anniversary of October 7 is not only about remembering what happened. It is also about recognizing what remains to be done.

Three years later, The Associated continues to invest in the ongoing needs of our partners and friends, supporting trauma recovery in Israel and strengthening Jewish life here at home. In Ashkelon, that has included partnering with area synagogues to support the Israel Trauma Coalition Resilience Center and its expanded mental health services. Here in Baltimore, we continue to build spaces where people can feel connected, supported and proud to be Jewish.

President Herzog recently reflected that remembering what we have lost also reminds us of who we are: a people that together continues to stand up in the face of hatred and adversity. We also must remember that our strength does not come from unanimity of opinion, but from a sense of responsibility for one another.

Looking Ahead

That is what I see throughout Jewish Baltimore. I see it in parents helping their children navigate difficult conversations. I see it in students who continue to express their Jewish identity proudly. I see it in rabbis, educators, volunteers, donors and professionals who show up every day for the people who depend on them. And I see it in countless acts of kindness that rarely make headlines but quietly hold us together as a community.

As we mark this anniversary, we remember those whose lives were taken and all those whose lives were forever changed. We honor the courage of survivors. We hold close the families who continue to grieve. And we pray for Israel’s safety and security, for a more peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians, and for the day when families will no longer know the pain of war.

Am Yisrael Chai.