JCRC Statement
October 7, 2026
Ron Halber and Galia Messika Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer and Board President, respectively, of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington issued the following message on the third anniversary of the October 7th terror attacks.
"Today, we remember the victims of the deadliest attack against Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Three years later, October 7, 2023, remains etched in our memories as a day of shock and horror — more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were slaughtered and 251 others were taken hostage. Some were brutally killed, while others endured up to two years in captivity in unspeakable conditions.
We keep them and their family members close to our hearts and honor the brave heroes who saved countless lives. We wish healing upon those who continue to deal with physical and emotional trauma, and whose lives will forever be changed.
The pain of the October 7 massacre continues to reverberate throughout Israel and the worldwide Jewish community. Simchat Torah, one of our most joyous holidays, will now forever be linked with the sadness of October 7. We take solace that this Simchat Torah, for the first time in years, there were no Israeli hostages (living or deceased) held by Hamas.
While we embrace that sliver of positivity, our hearts remain heavy for all who were murdered in the atrocities of October 7 and in the wars that have followed.
May their memories forever be a blessing.