Dana Jackson, Rutgers Student Assembly vice chair, said the killings were a tragedy for all, not just Jews. Photo courtesy Rutgers Hillel
March 18, 2008
Two hundred people gathered at Rutgers University March 12 in memory of eight students murdered by a Palestinian terrorist at the Mercaz Harav Seminary in Jerusalem.
The memorial in New Brunswick was organized by Rutgers Hillel and open to the general campus community. Although billed as a candlelight vigil, a biting wind prevented the eight yahrzeit and individual candles from staying lit.
As dusk turned to evening, students, a college dean, and Hillel representatives stood on the steps of Brower Commons where photos of the eight victims had been hung and somber music played in the background.
Eight students stepped forward to give brief biographies of the murdered youths, ages 15-26, before setting a yahrzeit candle on the steps.
“These boys were studying words of Torah, words of wisdom, words of peace, ” said Gabe Homa of Livingston, 20, who helped organize and led the vigil.
Homa said photos from the vigil along with student letters and a memorial book signed by participants would be presented to the yeshiva by Rutgers students traveling to Israel in July on trip sponsored by Jewish Learning Initiative.
The memorial book will be kept at the Hillel offices through the end of the school year for students to sign.
College Avenue campus dean Matt Matsuda termed it “a cruel paradox” that Rutgers students had gathered “not at a partisan or political gathering” but to reflect on the loss of life of other students.
Yasmin Schwartz of East Brunswick signs a remembrance book during a March 12 vigil at Rutgers University for the eight students killed at Mercaz Harav Seminary in Jerusalem. Photo by Debra Rubin
Hillel executive director Andrew Getraer recalled students had gathered at Hillel “in shock and grief” after hearing of the March 6 shootings. He added that sometimes when Jews are killed, the Jewish community wonders whether it is alone in its grief.
“I think this vigil answers that question,” said Getraer. “No, we are not alone. Just look around. There are others who share your grief, pain, and sorrow. These boys who were killed were Jews but they could just as easily have been your family or friends.”
Dana Jackson, Rutgers Student Assembly vice chair, echoed that point, stressing that during times of tragedy it is important for people to show solidarity and unity. The deaths were a tragedy not just for Jews, but for all humanity, she added.
The evening ended with the recitation of Kaddish.
Yasmin Schwartz of East Brunswick, a member of the vigil’s planning committee, said she came because “Israel is important to me and we need to let the world know.”
Alon Gitlin, another East Brunswick student, said he came “to show my respects.”
“I think they did a nice job,” he added. “They kept it in the right spirit.”
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