Orange County Community Comes Together for an Evening of Remembrance & Resilience

An extraordinary turnout of community members from throughout Orange County gathered on Wednesday evening, October 7, for a moving Evening of Remembrance & Resilience, co- hosted by The Jewish Federation of Orange County and Chabad of Orange County, led by Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston. The day marked three years since the tragic massacre of October 7, 2023.

The evening featured special guest Yaron Bar Moshe, an Israeli soldier who served in the elite Nahal Reconnaissance Unit. Yaron shared his powerful firsthand account of October 7, when he and his fellow soldiers were called to defend Israeli communities under attack.  Yaron’s unit defended Kibbutz Kfar for over 50 hours, and were subsequently deployed to Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, where they succeeded in preventing the terrorists from entering.  Yaron also described his experiences during 14 months of military service in Gaza, continuing to fight against terrorism. His deeply personal story of courage, sacrifice, family, loss, and resilience touched the hearts of all in attendance.

The program also featured soulful and moving music by Israeli-born musician Natan Zabari, of Monroe, along with heartfelt words of comfort, strength, and unity from Rabbi Pesach Burston, director of Chabad of Orange County.  Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus offered words of encouragement to the large crowd.

In a particularly meaningful moment, Yaron was presented with a personalized Book of Psalms, inscribed with his name and dedicated in honor of his beloved father, who recently passed away. The gift was presented on behalf of the Orange County community as an expression of love, gratitude, and solidarity.

The gathering brought together people from across the county, united in remembrance, compassion, and a shared commitment to stand against hatred and prejudice.

The evening served as a powerful reminder that even in the face of unimaginable darkness, the Jewish spirit continues to shine with courage, faith, unity, and hope.

For more information about Chabad of Orange County and upcoming programs, visit ChabadOrange.com.