LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — The Shabbat, also known as the Jewish Sabbath, is a time to remember and observe the Jewish faith.
On Friday, members of Congregation Shaarai Shomayim remembered six more people killed in the Israel-Hamas war.
The service was an evening of prayer and remembrance.
“It is a sabbath service and there is a little bit of juggling we have to do here because the sabbath is supposed to be a time of peace, when we do it right it is supposed to be a time of rest and joy, that has been disrupted for us,” said Rabbi Jack Paskoff.
The bodies of Ori Danino, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, and 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin were recovered by Israeli forces.
Goldberg-Polin was an Israeli American whose parents launched an international campaign to bring him home.
They were among the more than 200 taken hostage during Hamas’ October 7 attack that plunged the region into war.
“I apologize that we were not able to bring them back alive, we were close, but we were not successful. I repeat again, Israel will not act as if nothing has happened during this massacre, Hamas will pay a very heavy price,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The discovery of the six hostages has since sparked protests calling on Prime Minister Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas.
No agreement has been made.
About 100 people are believed to still be held captive.
Members of Lancaster’s Reformed synagogue honored the six hostages as well as those who had been killed during the conflict.
“We acknowledge the pain of the Israelis, of the Jewish people, and we acknowledge the pain of the Palestinians as well,” Paskoff said.
The somber ceremony still left room for hope.
Members celebrated Elsie Nassau’s Bat Mitzvah, a ceremony for girls to take their place in the Jewish community.
“Jews have learned over the years that we have to show ourselves, our pride and part of that is not giving into despair,” Paskoff said.