Heavy rain and strong winds didn’t stop Jewish students Monday night from promoting peace and honoring those who have perished in the violence in the Middle East.
Gathering at the rock on Farm Lane Monday, students from MSU’s Hillel Jewish Student Organization celebrated Jewish Heritage Month at the “Standing Together for Israel” event.
About 10 students lit candles, shared stories and prayed for those who have died. The group was prepared to paint the rock on Farm Lane, but rain washed away their plans.
“A lot of things tonight could have prevented us from doing this tonight,” said Shira Weinstein, program director for Hillel. “But we have to remember there are people in this world who are going through worse things than rain.
“We just have to remember to follow our hearts and stand up for what we believe in.”
During the program, students lit three candles - one for those who have died in Israel, one for those who have died in Palestine and the last for everyone else who has died in terrorist attacks.
Sherie Rappoport, who helped plan the event, said it’s important to have ceremonies such as the candlelight vigil to help cope with what’s going on in the Middle East.
“Students in Hillel came to me and asked if there was something we could do,” the communication sophomore said. “Even though we’re far away from Israel in Michigan, we have to realize we can still support them.”
Students also shared stories of Jews killed in suicide bombings. Adi Shiran, a 17-year-old from Haifa, Israel, was killed in a suicide bombing in March.
Rachel Levy, a 17-year-old from Jerusalem, was killed in a suicide bombing attack in March. Sgt. Merom Fisher, a 19-year-old from Moshav Avigdor, Israel, was killed in April in a hail of gunfire.
Hillel secretary Penny Dalin said everyone wants peace in the Middle East and events such as the candlelight vigil are one way to achieve that.
A Holocaust remembrance ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. today at Beaumont Tower.
“We just want the killing to stop,” said Dalin, a deaf education senior. “It’s ridiculous that every day we keep hearing more stories of killings and shootings. The killings are done by ignorant people and no one knows exactly what’s going on, but this is a way to educate people. It’s scary and extremely sad.”
Jameel Aftab, president of the Muslim Students’ Association, said the vigil was appropriate as more than 1,200 Palestinians and 400 Israelis have died in terrorist attacks during the past 17 months. Aftab did not attend the vigil.
The Muslim Students’ Association will host a peace rally at 4 p.m. Friday at the state Capitol.
“This issue is extremely important and needs to be addressed,” the psychology senior said. “Peace rallies bring people together and make them realize there’s no winner when innocent lives are lost.
“America has a duty to bring together both sides and discuss solutions so the Middle East has peace.”
