Empty Tables Walnut Creek
Friday, November 10, 2023
12:00PM - 5:00PM
Location: Walnut Creek Civic Park
Come for a moment of unity and awareness at the Empty Shabbat Tables, an event organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council at Walnut Creek Civic Park this Friday, November 10th, between noon and 5pm. This installation is not a public gathering, a rally, or a demonstration.
Here’s the background: Right now, 239 individuals are being held hostage by Hamas following the attacks in Southern Israel on October 7th. The hostages are men, women, and children of all ages - violently dragged from their homes, from bomb shelters, and from a music festival, many who were already gravely injured - all innocent individuals being held captive while friends and family, including our Contra Costa community, pray and advocate for their safe return. Only 4 hostages have been returned from Gaza, with another 1 rescued by the Israel Defense Forces. This week marked one month since this traumatizing violation of citizens in their sovereign state.
The Shabbat tables will stand empty to represent the missing loved ones at family dinners, reminding us of the void their absence creates. Our brothers and sisters in Israel have implored us to keep our focus (and to encourage our elected officials to keep their focus) on this humanitarian crisis; when Hamas frees these people from the 300 miles of tunnels they have built underneath Gaza, a ceasefire can be considered. This effort is happening in every county of the Bay Area this Friday to maximize impact on the public.
Rabbi Stein and Ḥazzan Bernstein will lead a family Kiddush and Motzi at 4:00pm.
Gratitude to, among others: Congregation B’nai Shalom, Contra Costa JCC, Chabad of Contra Costa, Golden State Endodontics: Dr. A. Scott & Siena Cohen, B&B Locksmith and Security Inc.