"Over these past two years, we have faced unimaginable pain and heartbreak," said Spartans for Israel president Skylar Elbinger in an address to the crowd. "We have mourned the lives lost and have shed a tear, and we have lifted our voices in prayer."

Elbinger emphasized the importance of community as "our unity is what keeps the light burning tonight," she said. 

"The candle you hold in your hand represents the strength in our unity," Elbinger told the crowd. "With just one, it is still hard to navigate in the dark, but when we all come together, the darkness begins to fade."

The vigil also retold the story of Alon Ohel, one of the 48 hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, at the behest of Yuval Hershler, an Israeli fellow from The Jewish Agency for Israel. 

Ohel had arrived at the Nova music festival hours before the attack began. As rockets fell, Ohel ran for shelter in the "shelter of death" where 16 were murdered and four were kidnapped, including Ohel. Seven survived, but only by hiding under the bodies of the deceased, Elbinger said. 

Ohel was then "brutally dragged to Gaza" alongside other hostages while suffering from "life-threatening" injuries, Elbinger continued. Ohel has lost vision in one eye as a result of his injuries and lacks proper medical treatment in the 731 days since Oct. 7, 2023.

"As we gather here, we carry his name and story with us, and we pray for his healing and for the safe return of Ohel and all of the hostages," Elbinger told the crowd. 

Students were also given the opportunity to share their experiences following Oct. 7 to the crowd in an open mic session. 

Arts and humanities and social work freshman Rebecca Mills attended the vigil out of respect for her community and friends currently living in Israel. Nearly all of those friends know people who have died on or because of the events of Oct. 7, Mills said. 

"I've seen how it's affected them, and I see how it's affected the community and the world as a whole," Mills said. 

Strengthening community is important in times like these, kinesiology and arts and humanities sophomore Emma Cohn said. 

"I've witnessed how it's shaped the world, and to just being a burning flame of antisemitic hate," Cohn said regarding Oct. 7. "It's affected me. It's affected all of my friends. I've lost friends because of it, and I'm just here to strengthen our community because that's what we need during this time."

Uplifting Jewish and Zionist students at MSU was one of the primary purposes of the event, Elbinger said.

"It's scary in this world, knowing that there are people that don't like me because I'm Jewish, don't like me because I support Israel, but that didn't deter me from wearing my chai," Elbinger said. Chai means life in Hebrew. "And then my magen david, which is my Star of David necklace, so it's not going to deter me from doing that. I'm still going to be a proud Jew, and still openly support Israel as well."

Following the conclusion of prayer, students were encouraged to place their LED candles around The Rock as a symbol of everlasting light.