After a long, difficult week for the St. Louis Jewish community, Stephanie Gross and Dafna Revah felt the need to honor and remember the Israeli hostage survivors, those still held in captivity and the tragic loss of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas. Late last week, they quickly planned a candle lighting ceremony for Sunday, Feb. 23. The result was “Together in Light: Honoring the Hostages” in Shaw Park.
“We decided it was too important not to do something,” Gross said. “Dafnah and I figured whoever wants to show up can come.” After Gross and Revah consulted with Scott Biondo, community security director at the Jewish Federation, they estimated that two or three dozen people might attend. They were off by about 400. A large solemn but hopeful crowd of community members arrived for the gathering. Some brought their own candles, and others lit small votive candles supplied by Gross, Revah and other volunteers.
Rabbi Schmuel Miller, head of school at Epstein Hebrew Academy, led the group in song and said, “When we come back together and greet each other with a warm countenance, we give the almighty a reason to continue protecting us, to thwart away all those who want to do evil and for us to be able to experience shalom.”
All photos by Bill Motchan.
