- October 8, 2025
- 1:46 pm
- Ukraine, Video
On October 7, 2025, in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, at the walls of the central Livshits synagogue, dozens of people gathered to say simple yet eternal words: “Never forget October 7.”
This date went down in history as the day of the horrific Hamas attack on Israel, when terrorists killed over a thousand people and took hundreds of hostages — among them were children, women, and the elderly.
The event in Vinnytsia became part of a global wave of remembrance — for those who cannot forget the pain of that morning, and for those who believe that even after horror, solidarity and light are possible.
06:29 — the time when it all began
The memorial event began exactly at 06:29 AM — the very moment when, two years ago, the attack on southern regions of Israel began according to Israeli time.
People stood with posters “Never forget the hostages” and candles that flickered in the morning air as a symbol of life continuing despite the pain.
The head of the Jewish Messianic community Yuriy Guzeev explained:
“Two years ago, at this very minute, Hamas began the attack. We gathered to pray for those who are no longer with us and for those still in captivity.”
According to the organizers, 48 hostages are still held by the terrorists, and their names were mentioned among the prayers, along with the names of the deceased.
Candles, prayers, and names that resonated in the heart of Ukraine
Soborna Street in Vinnytsia was filled with a soft glow. People stood in silence, holding candles — like small promises: to remember and not allow repetition.
The organizers of the event — the Jewish Messianic community of Vinnytsia (KEMO) and the Jewish Cultural Center of Vinnytsia — invited everyone who feels Israel’s pain as their own. Among the participants were Ukrainians, repatriates, families of Israelis, and members of the local community.
Prayers of “Shema, Israel” and words of support for the Israeli people were heard. People read the names of the deceased — those who were killed at the Nova festival, in the kibbutzim Be’eri and Nir Oz, who simply opened the door, not realizing that death was behind it.
Ukraine and Israel: a memory that unites
The event in Vinnytsia is not only a tribute of mourning. It is an expression of the spiritual connection between two peoples who have been going through trials for years and know the price of pain, loss, and resistance.
“We cannot forget because today Israel defends the same values that Ukraine fights for — life, freedom, dignity,” said event participant, Vinnytsia resident Alla Kovalchuk, mother of a Ukrainian soldier who died near Kherson.
According to the organizers, Vinnytsia joined the worldwide minute of silence announced by the March of Life movement. This event took place simultaneously in dozens of cities around the world — from Jerusalem and Berlin to New York and Toronto.
Pain that can be understood
Among the participants, a phrase was heard that became almost a symbol of that morning:
“The atrocities that happened on October 7, 2023, in Israel, are the same as what happened to us in Bucha.”
These words were spoken by Vinnytsia resident Natalia Demidova, a participant in the event. She added:
“We live in Ukraine and understand what Israel is going through. We also lost friends, neighbors, loved ones. And so we cannot remain silent when others experience the same pain.”
This parallel was not a comparison but a response. Bucha and Be’eri, Irpin and Nir Oz — names where humanity faced cruelty. The memory of them unites people across continents.
An evening that spoke without words
Among the candles and prayers, there was not only sorrow but also a rare feeling — the understanding that humanity is stronger than politics.
Many participants came with children. They explained to them why it is important to light a candle, why one cannot be indifferent to someone else’s pain.
“In 2023, Israel experienced that day as we did in February 2022,” said one of the organizers. “It was a moment when the familiar world collapses. But it is from such fragments that strength is born.”
The silence lasted only a minute, but it spoke louder than words. After the event, participants lingered at the synagogue, hugging, sharing memories.
Someone quietly sang in Hebrew “Oseh Shalom” — a prayer for peace that is still possible.
Vinnytsia — part of the global map of memory
Similar events took place in other Ukrainian cities — in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro.
But it was Vinnytsia, with its deep Jewish roots and respect for tradition, that became a symbol of warmth and spiritual participation.
Words were spoken here in two languages — Ukrainian and Hebrew.
Local media noted the sincerity with which Vinnytsia residents supported Israel.
Participants said it is important to remember not only the tragedy but also the stories of rescue — of neighbors, volunteers, soldiers, those who did not stand aside.
These stories are proof that good is still stronger than evil.
Memory as a bridge between peoples
For Israelis living in Ukraine and Ukrainians living in Israel, such events are not just a gesture of solidarity but a personal memory.
“We live between two homelands — Israel and Ukraine. And this candle is not only for the deceased but also for the living, for those who continue to fight for freedom,” said a participant from the “Beit-Shalom” community.
When the sun set behind the houses of Vinnytsia, the lights of the candles were reflected in the synagogue’s glass. People dispersed quietly.
Someone held a small Israeli flag, someone — a bouquet of cornflowers and poppies, the flowers of Ukraine.
October 7, 2025 — a day when Vinnytsia showed: the pain of Israel is not someone else’s pain.
In a world where it is easy to forget, the most important thing is to remember.
