The square that made us stronger

This week marks the first anniversary of the 7 October attacks. To honour this moment, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies organised a commemorative event titled “October 7 Square” in the forest at the Great Park Synagogue. The original purpose for this gathering was to offer a counter-narrative to the prevailing pro-Hamas rhetoric championed by the African National Congress and much of the national media. While we cannot take the South African media to Hostage Square in Israel and to experience the pain and loss firsthand, our hope was to create a space here where the deep emotional wounds and profound sense of loss shared by Israelis and Jews globally could be felt.

On Monday, 7 October, we hosted an exceptionally well attended press conference in the square, with representatives from most major national outlets in attendance. The response was overwhelming, with significant coverage across television, radio, and print, sharing deeply moving stories that resonated with both the Jewish community and the broader public.

This was a true success for the event, but in reality, the October 7 Square became so much more than merely a media moment. Nearly 40 community organisations, representing a wide breadth of our youth movements, social spaces, schools, shuls, and women’s groups, came together to create meaningful installations, each contributing a unique voice to the commemoration. The square became a source of so much mourning, reflection, and ultimately healing for so many in our community. It became apparent that as a community and as Jewry at large, we experienced a deep trauma and needed the space and time to express our grief.

Many people attended the square on multiple occasions, returning with friends, family, colleagues, and neighbours. In fact, the event was original slated only for 6 and 7 October, but due to its popularity and impact, we extended it into a third day. The installations themselves invited participation, with attendees leaving thousands of heartfelt notes, messages of support to families, reflections on personal feelings, and calls for peace. It was particularly poignant that at one installation which simply stated, “After October 7 I am Feeling”, so many participants chose to write “proud”, “Jewish”, “stronger”, and “more Jewish”. This is a theme we didn’t anticipate, but is a clear indication of how the events of that horrible day awakened a feeling of belonging for so many.

This feeling of belonging, strength, and unity was further highlighted on Sunday afternoon, 6 October, when a pro-Palestine convoy and protest came to intimidate visitors. Rather than cowering in fear, our community stood tall, singing songs and dancing in an outpouring of strength and resilience. This inspirational and invigorating moment was then followed by a moving vigil, which had been planned as a private event for one of the youth movements, but was attended by all at the square, a testament to the unity and spirit that has come to define this commemoration.

We’re a small community, but our unity and spirit have shown us to be determined, united, and strong well beyond our numbers. As we look toward Yom Kippur this Shabbat, I hope that we can take this unity forward, and that likewise, we’ll be reunited with our hostages very soon. I wish everyone a safe, peaceful, and meaningful fast and a gmar chatima tova.

• Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM, every Friday from 12:00 to 13:00.