VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Rabbi Israel Zoberman of Virginia Beach cannot sleep at night following the latest horrific headlines from his home country.
As the son of Holocaust survivors, videos of the hostages offer a painful reminder of what mankind should never forget.
Hours after the funeral of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was raised in Richmond and was killed over the weekend after being taken hostage by Hamas Oct. 7, Zoberman offered a prayer 11 months after the Hamas attack.
“So here it is, the memorial candle that we light, and the Holocaust of the star of David, the name Judah on it that the Jews were forced to wear in the ghettos,” Zoberman said. “And we are reliving it right now. And there’s no prayer for that, there is no blessing.”
As the Oct. 7 attack approaches the one-year anniversary, 41,000 Palestinians have been killed, mass polio vaccinations are underway in Gaza and an estimated 100 Israelis hostages remain in captivity.
Outrage and anger filled the streets of Israel as President Joe Biden, in a single word during an exchange with reporters, rebuked Prime Minister Netanyahu’s military response to the Oct. 7 attack.
“Do you think he’s doing enough,” a reporter asked Biden about Netanyahu’s military response.
“No,” Biden said.
What did Netanyahu know and when did he know is one question that remains surrounding the Oct. 7 attack. Zoberman is awaiting answers as critics say the prime minister is trying to stall elections.
“The death [toll] is something that, I can assure you, the Israeli democracy will fully investigate, fully, fully investigate,” Zoberman said. “And already, one Israeli general did resign over it, and you call upon others to follow suit as well.”
Asked how close Israel is to a regional conflict, Zoberman said that, “well, it can go up at any time. No guarantees. No guarantees. I know that President Biden is trying very hard to avoid it.”
For now, Zoberman offers a prayer for those who suffer and U.S. forces, including two aircraft carriers that are prepared to respond to continued attacks.
“Amen,” Zoberman said. “May peace come upon all of us. Soon.”
