Israel, Hamas agree to ceasefire, hostage release in Gaza conflict
01/16/2025 01:14:01 PM
SALT LAKE CITY — Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in the war in Gaza and the release of 33 hostages. The deal would pause the devastation 15 months after Hamas attacked Israel.
The ceasefire raises the possibility of winding down some of the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the ceasefire isn’t complete yet and final details are still being worked out.
Utahns on both sides of the issue are reacting to the news, expressing hope and optimism, but also reservation. Tala Hammond, a first-generation Palestinian American attending the University of Utah, says the ceasefire is promising but may not hold. She hopes for more accountability and notes the deal lacks any kind of aid package.
Rabbi Sam Spector of Congregation Kol Ami says, “It's very tragic what's happened in Gaza where the Palestinians have lost so much. I'm hopeful that this war was so horrific on both sides, that both sides will say that we cannot allow this to happen again.”
Spector adds, “I'm hopeful that there are better days ahead for everyone involved.”
Rabbi Spector, who leads Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City, explains that his congregants want a ceasefire that returns hostages and has measures in place to prevent future bloodshed.
The rich history and celebration of Hannukah
12/23/2024 07:23:39 AM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Good Things Utah) — Rabbi Samuel L. Spector has been the rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami since 2018. He was born and raised in Seattle, Washington where he attended the University of California San Diego. An active brother of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity while in attendance, Rabbi Spector graduated with Cum Laude honors and a B.A. in Judaic Studies and was elected Phi Beta Kappa. He received his Masters in Hebrew Letters and Rabbinic Ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles.
He is currently a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and serves on the advisory board for the Salt Lake Chamber and the Christian Center of Park City. We go through the traditions and customs, the meaning of the dreidel, foods, what it means to light the menorah, and more.
Utahns commemorate one-year anniversary of Hamas attacks on Israel
10/07/2024 10:16:23 PM
SALT LAKE CITY — Monday marked one year since the deadly Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.
On the south steps of the Utah State Capitol, more than 500 people gathered to commemorate the first anniversary of the attack.
Several speakers took to the podium on Monday to share their thoughts and even their own personal stories.
"My sister was rescued by civilians who took survivors of the massacre into their homes," said Maya Skurnik, who is originally from Israel.
Skurnik moved to Utah two years ago, but says he entire family is still in Israel.
She went into more detail how October 7th, 2023 impacted her family.
"My sister was at the Nova music festival, for people who don't know what this is, which apparently exists, it is a music festival that was the first site to be attacked by the Hamas terrorists," said Skurnik.
She says her sister, Yuval, survived.
Ron Zamir is with the United Jewish Federation of Utah. He was wearing a shirt Monday night in support of Itay Chen. Itay is the son of two of Zamir's friends and was killed during the attack a year ago.
"They waited over five months to find out that he had actually been killed that day, Itay, an American citizen, his body was kidnapped and is still being held in Gaza," said Zamir.
During the event on Monday, faith leaders from the Jewish community addressed the crowd.
"A year later, we stand before you today, together, as one united Jewish community in Utah, stronger and more unified than before," said Rabbi Sam Spector, Congregation Kol Ami.
Utah Jewish community, elected officials and faith leaders remember Oct. 7 terror attack
10/07/2024 09:33:32 PM
A sea of Israeli and American flags were held up in the air for over an hour Monday as a memorial took place on the steps of the Utah Capitol one year after the events of Oct. 7.
The day marked the worst tragedy for Jewish people and Israel since the Holocaust, said Alex Shapiro. Standing at a podium, he said, “1,200 were murdered and approximately 250 were taken hostage, of which 101 are still held in Gaza, four of whom are American citizens.”
Some of the more than 100 attendees held up posters with pictures of the hostages. Others wore stickers saying “Day 365” and shirts saying “Never Again is Now” during the memorial which included Jewish rabbis, a leader from Salt Lake City’s First Baptist Church, a general authority from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and two members of Utah’s congressional delegation.
The memorial included the screening of video footage from the beginning moments of Hamas’ terror attacks on Israel, testimony of survivors and speakers acknowledging the horror of the attacks and the hope they have for a brighter future.
For the hostages still held far from their homes, Shapiro, the CEO of the United Jewish Federation of Utah, said “we pray for an immediate return.”
For those who were killed, “we honor their memory and stand in solidarity with their families, offering our deepest condolences and unwavering support,” he said. “We also mourn needless loss of lives in Gaza and Lebanon and the suffering of civilians caught in harm’s way.”
Rabbi Samuel L. Spector of Congregation Kol Ami said he went to Israel a few weeks after the attack. There he attended rallies to bring hostages home and held people in bomb shelters as sirens rang out.
Everywhere he turned, he said he saw two Hebrew words that mean: “united we will win.”
“These words became the mantra of every person in Israel,” said Rabbi Spector, explaining they were used by people of all political affiliations. He said Utah’s Jewish community is now stronger than ever.
“We stand with each other, our friends stand here with us and we stand with the people in Israel and we will not stop standing until every Israeli in the south, every Israeli in the north, every Israeli who is being held hostage in Gaza is home,” said Rabbi Spector.
Local Jewish, Muslim communities react after Iran fires missiles into Israel
10/01/2024 02:30:47 PM
SALT LAKE CITY — Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday.
It was the latest incident in a years-long conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militias Hezbollah and Hamas.
Ron Zamir with the United Jewish Federation of Utah says his son was in Tel Aviv.
"So, he sends me a picture from the air raid shelter of his baby who's four months old playing with another four-month-old baby," said Zamir.
Here in Utah on Tuesday, Zamir reacted to the latest attack on Israel.
"It takes 12 minutes for these missiles to reach Israel from Iran. These are missiles the size of a bus, so, what is Iran trying to achieve?" said Zamir.
By: Chris ArnoldPosted 10:57 PM, Oct 01, 2024
SALT LAKE CITY — Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday.
It was the latest incident in a years-long conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militias Hezbollah and Hamas.
Ron Zamir with the United Jewish Federation of Utah says his son was in Tel Aviv.
"So, he sends me a picture from the air raid shelter of his baby who's four months old playing with another four-month-old baby," said Zamir.
Here in Utah on Tuesday, Zamir reacted to the latest attack on Israel.
"It takes 12 minutes for these missiles to reach Israel from Iran. These are missiles the size of a bus, so, what is Iran trying to achieve?" said Zamir.
Many of those incoming missiles were intercepted by the country's air defenses, according to a spokesman for the Israeli Military.
"To have 181 high-speed, technologically advanced, incredibly destructive ballistic missiles fired at a tiny country the size of New Jersey is very scary," said Rabbi Sam Spector with Congregation Kol Ami.
Rabbi Spector also spoke about a shooting that took place Tuesday in the Jaffa neighborhood in Tel Aviv, that left six people dead after two suspects opened fire. Police said the suspects were also killed. The shooting happened moments before the missiles were launched by Iran.
"It's a reminder that this is not a fight of Jews against Muslims at the end of the day. Again, this is a fight of good against evil," said Rabbi Spector.
Sun, January 26 2025
26 Tevet 5785
