November 2, 2023

Nearly 400 members of the Iranian Jewish community gathered on Oct. 25 at the Eretz Cultural Center (ECC) in Tarzana for an event to show solidarity with Israel and raise money for three prominent Israeli non-profit groups helping Israelis after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists.

“Eretz Cultural Center’s ‘Stand with Israel’ event was not just about raising funds, but to bring awareness to antisemitism, hate threats on college campuses, educate on the organizations and what they are currently doing for Israel and its people,” ECC Executive Director Rebecca Aghalarpour said. “More importantly this event was about unity.”

The gathering also featured prominent Jewish and non-Jewish community leaders such as Israeli deputy consul general Amit Mekel, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean for the L.A.-based Simon Wiesenthal Center and Los Angeles Police deputy chief Allen Hamilton.

“Unfortunately, on that Shabbat, Oct. 7, we all experienced the worst slaughter of Jews since the defeat of Adolf Hitler in 1945,” Cooper said. “Yet from the moment they (Hamas) did that nightmare, we as Jews were awakened with a renewed unity and that kind of unity will help us prevail in the end.”

Aghalarpour said the ECC event raised roughly $300,000, all of which will be donated to the non-profit groups Beit Halochem for IDF Wounded Soldiers, Magbit Foundation and Jewish National Fund-USA.

ECC President Nader Gaim said the event was also an important gathering to help bring a sense of healing to many local Iranian Jews who have long been very supportive of Israel and were deeply pained by the events that transpired on Oct. 7 in Israel.

“I absolutely think that this event brought us together in Jewish unity, hope and that there is a light at the end of this tunnel,” Gaim said.

The pro-Palestinian chants at UCLA could be heard well before one approached the courtyard, where hundreds of students had gathered for yet another rally. Rebecca, a second-year English major, hurried past the demonstrators, apprehensive about being identified as a Jew. ‘I make a considerable effort to navigate in and out of my classes without wearing my Star of David necklace anymore,’ the 20-year-old student revealed, who wished to be identified by her first name only. ‘There’s an underlying atmosphere of fear on campus. If you’re Jewish, fear is almost inevitable. Many of my Jewish friends actively avoid any potential conflicts. They attend classes, visit the library, and head straight back home or to their dorms.’

Similar apprehensions are voiced by Jewish students across campuses in the U.S. ‘We live in fear,’ and ‘The school administration fails to ensure our safety,’ are common sentiments expressed.

Dana, a 25-year-old law student at UCLA, spoke to the Jewish Journal under the condition of anonymity. ‘I’m wary of potential retaliation,’ she admitted. ‘Since this situation began, I try to avoid unnecessary strolls around campus. Many of my classmates display the black and white scarf associated with Palestinians and the Palestinian flag. I witness their gatherings and demonstrations, and honestly, it’s intimidating. I’m now cautious about what I wear, whether it’s a shirt with “I love Israel” or a Star of David necklace. I don’t want to face any form of retaliation. It’s bewildering that we, as Jewish students, feel fearful to show our support for Israel, while pro-Palestinian supporters express themselves openly. They know we are not violent people and that we will never attack them for the horrible things they are saying. But we’re aware of the risks to our safety and that’s why many of us choose not to get involved.”

On October 25th, a video surfaced depicting pro-Palestinian students chanting ‘Israel, Israel, you can’t hide, we want a Jewish Genocide,’ sparking widespread debates over the actual words used. Some claim the chant was ‘We charge you with genocide.’

Irrespective of the exact wording, Jewish students at UCLA express their unease attending classes amidst such rallies. ‘The concerning issue is that even some professors endorse these rallies and hold pro-Palestinian views,’ explained 19-year-old student Alex Katz. ‘When you know your professors support these views, there’s a fear of speaking up as it might impact your grades. Some of us have lost family and friends in terror attacks in Israel, yet we haven’t heard a word of compassion from our professors or the administration.’

At UC Berkeley, Jewish students also feel alienated by their professors. According to students we spoke to, some professors have advocated for a day off from classes for pro-Palestinian rallies and offered a five-point credit if students attended. During one such rally, a professor even expressed the opinion that Israel has no right to exist.

Daniel Conway, the co-president of “Bears for Israel,” has always been outspoken and proud to be Jewish. Living in Los Angeles, he had never experienced antisemitism. The first time he encountered it was when he got to Berkeley.

“These past weeks have left me feeling unsafe on campus,” he said. ‘The Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) permitted class cancellations for students to attend pro-Palestinian rallies. Influential figures are advocating for Bears for Palestine, which typically promotes a highly anti-Israel rhetoric, even celebrating acts of terrorism against Israel. It’s deeply unsettling.”

Conway and his mother attempted to address their concerns with the school administration but received a standard response: “We do everything to protect your children.” However, it appears that Jewish students feel the administration isn’t doing enough to ensure their safety. “They assure us of security during rallies, yet at every pro-Palestine rally, a Jewish student has been attacked. Just last week, a Jewish student was struck by a metal bottle, yet none of these assaults are labeled as “hate crimes.”

Ariel Mizrahi, Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) senator and chair of the Jewish Student Union at UC Berkeley said that the display of support for pro-Palestinian students, without equivalent support for Jewish students, leaves Jewish students feeling alienated by the professors and the administration alike.

“We have a sense that the administration is brushing us off when we bring our concerns to them. Jewish students aren’t safe on campus and they still say there is nothing to worry about. There is a sense of uncaring. They say they are protecting us but they don’t communicate how they do so.”

Mizrahi said that in each pro-Palestinian rally there were Jewish students who got hurt. All of the incidents were reported to the campus police and yet, nothing has been done about it.

While UC Berkeley claims professors are not allowed to cancel class in order to allow students to go on rallies, this is exactly what had happened. “They are not enforcing their own conduct rules” said Mizrahi. “There are many Jewish students who are not comfortable saying they are Jewish or reporting their professors who are clearly pro-Palestinian to the administration because they are afraid they will give them grade deductions. I had multiple students come to me and say they want to leave the school and go to a less prestigious school, just so they can feel safe.”

Mizrahi said that she had met with school administration and raised her concerns multiple times but sensed that her words fell on deaf ears.

“I asked them how many Jewish students need to be attacked or killed in order for them to take action? How many Jewish lives need to be at risk for them to care? It feels like Jewish lives at UCB are worth less.”

When asked whether she regrets choosing UC Berkeley, despite being accepted to several other prestigious universities, Mizrahi surprisingly replied, “No. I was forewarned about Berkeley before arriving here, and I made the conscious choice to attend for that very reason. I believed there were aspects I could influence and was prepared to take on that challenge, but I didn’t know how difficult it’s going to be. I find myself disappointed in my school; it’s not the prestigious university it claims to be.”

Amid all they hatred they feel on Campus, there is one beacon of light. Many Jewish students found a safe haven in Chabad Berkeley run by Rabbi Gil Leeds and his wife Bracha.

Rabbi Leeds said that he sees an increase of students attending their Shabbat dinners. “Last Friday night 125 students came for dinner. I see also a lot of interest of students to put Tefillin. They stop by our table in campus and ask to put Tefillin and say a prayer. Those are students I never met before. It’s almost a sense of resistant with all the hate that is directed at us. Yes, we are Jewish and we are proud to be.”

Still, Rabbi Leeds acknowledges the fact that many Jewish students choose to hide their Jewish identity and are afraid to participate in pro-Israel rallies. “There are many students who don’t want to get involved because they are afraid. People have been openly hostile to Jews on campus and I understand they are scared. If you hide your Jewish identity you might not be a victim, but it’s not a solution. We need to stand all together and show how strong and united we are.”

In response to questions from the Journal, Dan Mogulof, ass’t vice chancellor, Office of Communication and Public Affairs, emailed “While we understand how upsetting and frightening some of these demonstrations have been for Jewish students, they are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. We might not like it, but even hate speech is protected and, as public university, we cannot shut down or prevent anyone or any organization from expressing their point of view outside of the classroom. To do so would be breaking federal law. We would [be] sued. We would lose.”

And regarding the professor who was quoted that Israel has no right to exist:

“When acting in their private capacities, University employees have the same rights and responsibilities as any other member of the public, including freedom of speech, as guaranteed by the Constitution. At the same time, individual employees, including faculty, do not speak for or represent the values, perspectives or positions of the University. It is a different story if classrooms are being used for political advocacy.”

Tomer Peretz, 41, traveled to Israel with his two young sons to attend a wedding on October 2.  Five days later he awoke to the sound of sirens and a new and terrifying reality. The memory of October 7^th, 2023 will forever be remembered as the worst terrorist attack in the history of the State of Israel.

Two days after the attack, Peretz volunteered with ZAKA, a volunteer-based organization known for its work in disaster and terrorist attack response. He arrived with them at Kibbutz Be’eri, tasked with the grim mission of collecting the scattered bodies and body parts in the area. The haunting scenes from that day are etched in his mind along with the pungent smells. What he witnessed during that week he recounted in this chilling interview.

Peretz, a professional artist with ties to the fashion industry, told the Jewish Journal how he found himself volunteering with ZAKA; “On Friday, before everything began, I sat with friends from my unit, we shared a meal and exchanged stories. The very next day, my unit was called to action. Despite being diagnosed with PTSD after my military service which exempted me from reserve duty, I couldn’t bear to sit at home and do nothing.  So, I called a friend of mine who had been volunteering with ZAKA for 25 years and asked to volunteer. On Monday, I was already in Nahal Oz in Be’eri, working alongside them to collect the bodies.”

ZAKA doesn’t typically recruit volunteers on such a short notice and for such a gruesome task, but Peretz was determined. His commitment made him one of them in no time. “I’ve never done anything like this before, but my friend who volunteers with ZAKA for 25 years, is familiar with my military service and he thought I’d help from outside and not actually go into the field and collect bodies, but that’s what happened. The truth is that I didn’t leave him much choice either.”

By the time Peretz and ZAKA arrived in Be’eri, the bodies had started to rot. It was two days after the massacre and a war field like nothing they had ever experienced before awaited them.

“The first body was that of a woman who was shot in the face until there was nothing left, they just kept shooting even after she was killed. It was Monday morning and by then the bodies were swollen and had worms. They were scattered everywhere, in and outside the homes, some of them had limbs, fingers, feet, hands amputated, or an eye taken out. It was clear that they had been severely tortured before being shot or burned alive. I saw a mother hugging her little boy in an attempt to protect him and they were both burned, there was a couple who were burned together but the man’s body was not completely burned and you could still see the severe whipping on his back. I saw a baby with an axe in his head. In general, there were a lot of babies with decapitated heads. ZAKA volunteers who are used to collecting bodies after terror attacks and disasters went aside to vomit, some fainted. The friend, the team leader of the international delegation, brought me there.  He has been to disaster scenes like Turkey and Haiti said he had never seen anything like this before. Hamas’ cruelty shocked us all. In one of the mamads (Israeli secured shelters) we found a 50-year-old man. He killed 15 terrorists and after he was eventually caught, they amputated all his fingers, he somehow managed to escape to the safe room, where he died of smoke inhalation after they burned the place. We found the bodies of the terrorists he killed in the area.”

ZAKA meticulously places each body within a bag, carefully noting the corresponding house number and the specific injuries observed, such as a missing hand, right leg, or an eye. Subsequently, the team searches the immediate area for any severed organs, which are then appropriately bagged. “One of the most distressing moments I witnessed involved burned bodies,” said Peretz.  “At one point, I was handed a small bag containing the remains of a young child. I didn’t inquire about its contents; I was simply stunned. As I carried the bag toward the truck, someone told me that it held the charred remains of a little boy. It was an incredibly difficult moment, and we both struggled to hold back our emotions. Every passing second, you find yourself stepping aside, overwhelmed with grief, and tears flow freely. We recited a prayer, the Kaddish with a rabbi while encircling the bodies wrapped in plastic bags.”

Each day, Tomer and the crew of volunteers returned home for a few hours’ sleep before they were scheduled to come back and continue their work. The first night, they just sat and talked until 3am. During that first week, none of them were able to sleep well, the devastating images of entire families tortured and burnt alive too hard to comprehend. In one home the volunteers found a family of four tied up, all dead. The father was missing an eye, the little boy’s fingers were all cut, the little girls’ feet amputated, her mother was missing one breast. While the family was lying there bleeding and in sheer agony, the terrorists were sitting at the dining table eating. The thoughts of what the victims experienced during their last hours on earth don’t let go of anyone who had witnessed the horrors firsthand.

“Actually, my nights have become harder now,” admitted Peretz, “When you’re in the midst of a war, your mind is constantly occupied with the tasks at hand. However, now that I’m back here in Los Angeles, my mind has more room to reflect, and it’s difficult to grapple with the situation from a distance. There’s a strong urge to be there and continue helping but I have a wife and three children who need me.”

Perez has lived in Los Angeles for 18 years and is the father of three children, aged 5, 9 and 11. His decision to volunteer was a source of concern for his family, particularly his parents, who were understandably worried. Initially his wife had difficulty accepting his choice, but she soon began to offer her support.

From the moment Peretz arrived in Be’eri and later at the Nova festival area, he never ceased his efforts to document the atrocities. His goal was to ensure that the world had an opportunity to witness and comprehend the gravity of the situation. Most Zaka volunteers primarily consist of ultra-Orthodox men, using “kosher” phones that lack cameras, they found it perplexing that the new volunteer was consistently recording.

“One of them said to me, ‘You’re recording too much,’” Perez said. “I responded, ‘The world needs to witness this.’ Their mindset leaned more toward safeguarding families. These are deeply spiritual individuals who view their work as a sacred duty, a great Mitzvah. They don’t prioritize social networks. Coming from a different background I understood the vital importance of these images and videos for the world to gain insight into what occurred here.”

Peretz is acutely aware that, despite the extensive documentation, there are still individuals who deny the events in Israel, much like Holocaust deniers. He clarified that he doesn’t attempt to persuade these deniers but rather focuses on engaging with those who are genuinely interested in understanding and learning.

“I often encounter those deniers on social media. However, I don’t invest my time and energy in debating them,” Peretz explained. “My preference is to educate those who are unaware of the truth and are genuinely seeking to learn. Engaging with deniers is often futile because they will invariably find something to dispute. Whether I present evidence like the bag containing the charred remains of a child or even the child’s body itself, they will assert its doctored or manipulated. Regardless of the proof offered, deniers tend to adhere to their biases, disliking Jews and disregarding the facts. This pattern of denial and hatred is nothing new for us Israelis.”

During these operations, rocket attacks continued in the area, forcing the volunteers to find shelter behind some vehicles. In order to deal with everything he had witnessed, Peretz said he receives a partial treatment. “Every other day I speak with someone.  ZAKA has now included me in a support group that has a psychiatrist and a therapist. I recognize the importance of self-care. Additionally, keeping busy has been a saving grace for me. I’m deeply involved in advocacy work, frequently moving from one interview to another. Currently, I’m also working on an art installation scheduled for November 5th. We’ve created a space, complete with a stage and setting, reminiscent of the Nova Festival. The event will host 1700 people, with 1400 simulating the deceased and experiencing horrors, 200 simulating abductees, and 100 simulating the missing.”

A few months ago, Peretz, a gifted painter, was working on a fashion line he named “War Is Over.” He reflected, “I declared then that the war was over, and then all of this happened.”

Peretz characterizes ZAKA’s work as “the dirtiest job in the world.” Yet, it is also a noble mission performed by a group of truly righteous people who are dedicated to ensuring that the deceased receive a proper Jewish burial. This is done not only for their sake but also to provide closure for their grieving families.