Editor’s Note: The name Ruby is fabricated to preserve student privacy, given the minority of Palestinian students on campus and honor her concerns about sharing her experience.

Students and faculty embraced one another as they funneled into rooms 152 and 153 with heavy hearts. The room quieted as the Jewish Student Union began their presentation, commemorating the Hamas-led coordinated attacks that took place one year ago. The presentation marked 365 days of conflict and war between Israel and Gaza by recounting the events and spreading messages of hope.

This past Monday, Oct. 7, marked the one year anniversary of Hamas’s attacks on Israel, where 1,200 people lost their lives, according to Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since this event, war has ensued between the Israeli government and Hamas with continuous bombing, terrorism and an estimated 101 hostages still held by Hamas. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, 41,788 people have lost their lives over the course of the past year in Gaza. An estimated 10,000 people are buried under the rubble, according to the United Nations. 

Though far in proximity from the conflict, the Archer community and Los Angeles as a whole has nonetheless been affected by this war. Across the world, antisemitism and Islamophobia have been on the rise. Several Los Angeles communities and organizations have come together, each in unique ways, to recognize the attacks, honor the lives lost and signal for hope and peace.

Within the walls of Archer, the executive board of JSU held a lunchtime commemoration presentation in collaboration with JSU member and StandWithUs intern Layla Negrin (’26). StandWithUs is “an international, non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism.” Negrin and the board worked together to make the event digestible for all ages, suitable for a school setting and appropriate for a non-sectarian environment. The presentation included prepared slides and talking points, an open discussion and a moment of silence.

Spanish teacher and JSU co-advisor Talia Geffen explained  the club thoroughly communicated with administration to ensure their presentation struck the right balance between hopeful and somber, meaningful and not “re-traumatizing.” She emphasized that the presentation was meant to bring people into the community, not alienate people. 

“[Our presentation] is not perfect. We ask you for grace,” Geffen said as the event commenced. “There’s not one right way to feel. It’s hard to go about this heavy topic and then go about your school day right after.”

Senior and JSU executive board member Sophia Calne commemorated the events both inside and outside of Archer. She attended the Nova Exhibition in Culver City with her family during the Jewish high holidays. The Nova Exhibition is an “in-depth remembrance of the brutal massacre at The Nova Music Festival on October 7th,” according to their website. Calne explained the importance of honoring her Jewish heritage with other members of her community.

“It was amazing to see the turnout that we had. I started Archer in ninth grade after being at a Jewish school my whole life, and it was really scary for me to come to a secular school because I was worried about not finding that same Jewish community,” Calne said. “But in JSU, I’ve found that connection, and it has been really powerful. I know there [are] other girls who have had similar experiences, and so, it was a sign of hope to see sixth graders and 12th graders in this meeting, and see the strength of our community come back together again.”

For people of all denominations and creeds, there was a variety of recognition ceremonies. Temples and synagogues held services to honor those who lost their lives and pray together. There was a commemoration at The Saban Theater, the Museum of Tolerance lit candles for the hostages and Hey Alma, a “feminist Jewish culture site,” hosted a virtual event on Zoom.

The variation and diversity in methods to honor the date demonstrates the beauty and importance of community, Geffen explained.

“Community is one of our biggest tools for fighting despair. I think that in a moment like this one, when so many communities are facing discrimination, prejudice, trauma and hardship, it is often so lonely, and it can feel like others don’t understand your experience,” Geffen said. “One of the most beautiful things is that with [others], you don’t have to bear the burden alone, and you have others to share, whether they are Jewish or not, in these circumstances … it allows for avenues of hope, because when you come together, you start to think about ways that you can dig yourself out, and things that bring you joy.”

The Archer community has a small Palestinian student population that are also navigating the challenges and trauma from the events on Oct. 7 and the past year.

One student, who identifies as half Palestinian, shared her experience amidst the anniversary of the war; this student requested to remain anonymous over concerns about the student body’s reaction and will therefore be referred to as Ruby.

Ruby has been following the war for the past year, processing her emotions surrounding the war with her family and friends. To commemorate the anniversary of the conflict, she said she cooked traditional Palestinian dishes with her family to feel more connected to her culture, and she processed the conflict with her parents.

“This is a difficult time for everyone, and we are losing people on both sides. In [American news], they frame it like there’s not any support for the Palestinian side, and it can make someone who supports Palestine feel very alone,” Ruby said. “I think connecting with people who also support Palestine, even if you’re not Palestinian, is really important because it can feel like there’s 1,000 people to one opinion, when that’s not actually the ratio.”

One space on Archer’s campus where students who identify as Middle Eastern or North African can come together is MENA (Middle Eastern and North African): a new affinity space for people of these ethnicities. Club leader Sara Salehi (’26) said MENA plans to address the date and commemorate the past year in their next meeting.

Geffen said although this war is ever evolving, recognitions inside and outside of the Archer community are symbols of hope for the future and acknowledgements of tragedy.

“With community and others,” Geffen said. “It’s easier to see a path forward.” 

This story was originally published on The Oracle on October 16, 2024.