By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Nearly two months after Coral Gables officials first discussed how to honor the victims of October 7, 2023, the city held an Interfaith Ceremony for Unity and Peace in the courtyard of City Hall on Monday evening, October 27.
The event represented a compromise by the City Commission, which had debated various ways to recognize victims of recent violence in the Middle East while striving to remain neutral in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the end, the commission agreed that an interfaith gathering and banners bearing a general message of peace would appropriately commemorate the victims.
About 75 residents attended to hear messages of peace, unity, and tolerance from local religious leaders and community members. The ceremony included a candle lighting and performances by the Coral Gables Congregational Vocal Ensemble.
Reverend Laurinda Hafner, senior pastor at Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ, emceed the event, praising attendees for their “commitment to unity and peace” and for keeping their “hearts open to each other’s faith.”
Rabbi Judith Siegal of Temple Judea also addressed the crowd, saying it was an honor to stand with “friends, neighbors and leaders who refused to let hate drown out their humanity.” She added, “It’s been a difficult two years – but we’ve been in each other’s homes and houses of worship. We stand together even when we disagree.”
Mayor offers support for Israel; resident speaker responds
Mayor Vince Lago was the only elected official to speak, although the full commission, city manager, city clerk, city attorney, and other officials attended. It was Lago’s initial proposal to raise the flag of Israel to honor the victims of Oct. 7 that eventually led to the interfaith event—and considerable debate among residents.
Despite repeated commission agreements to focus the event on remembrance rather than political statements, Lago again voiced his stance. “I stand shoulder to shoulder with the State of Israel,” he said, also thanking members of the Israeli consulate for attending.
Jalal Shehadeh, a Coral Gables resident from Palestine who had previously spoken against earlier plans that emphasized Israel, was invited to participate and read the poem “Think of Others” by a Palestinian poet.
Although he had not planned to make additional remarks, Shehadeh decided to speak after the mayor’s comments, saying they felt one-sided and inconsistent with the event’s purpose of mourning all victims.
“I also wanted to thank the city for allowing us to honor all victims, including the 65,000 that have been killed by the State of Israel since the war began,” Shehadeh said.
Shehadeh and his wife, Katherine, had communicated with commissioners and event organizers to ensure the ceremony honored all victims equally. They said they were surprised that the mayor spoke, as they understood no political remarks would be made by elected officials.
This Post Has 7 Comments
This mayor is the epitome of racism. How can you say you are a mayor for ALL residents but cannot say all victims? Palestinians and Israelis? 68000 Palestinians killed and massacred and you cannot give them any empathy. Multiple meetings and no support from his commissioners for flag or lights or banner to only say 1 date, yet he tried to hijack the event via social media and then in person as a 10/7 Israeli only event. We see you mayor and we see how you bend the knee. Stop with this virtue signaling and grand standing. You lack empathy and humanity and do not see the deep racism within you if you cannot humanize children and women that have been in massacred in this genocide. Stick to our city municipal issues. Don’t get involved in geo political issues. Applaud the rabbis and faith leaders who kept it peaceful. And applaud the Palestinians in their faith and fortitude to keep it classy and still call out the hypocrisy of the mayor (for all lol)
Most of us who have followed the Mayor through the years agree that he flips and flops as it is convenient for him and his goals. He had not mention Israel until recent times. Why, you may ask, is he doing it now? Is there some political agenda? Is it possible that he has higher political aspirations and is trying to reach out to specific groups that he thinks would/could help him achieve his political goals?
I would not bet that anyone can predict what could be next coming from him. Transparency, truthfulness, honesty are just words for him. As I have said before, actions speak
louder than words! Our residents should watch his actions
and stay involved. Perhaps they will be able to see through the smoke and mirrors that surround him!
Red fox is absolutely correct. Kudos to the Shehadeh’s.
Other than Ms. Castro, this city commission and mayor elicit nothing but disgust – even Fernandez is a letdown. Note to commission: don’t try to drag my city into international conflicts, not even symbolically, with this “both-sides” nonsense. Not at all surprised to see the cartoonishly-sinister, mentally-unstable mayor insisting on emphatically expressing his support for fanatical, racist, genocidal religious lunatics, and yet have nothing to say about 70,000 dead and hundreds of thousands of injured “others”. Pathetic.
The vigil was Ariel’s idea, even though at the 9/10 commission meeting he also couldn’t speak about the genocidal levels Death toll of paelstinaisns. However he evolved and suggested by next meeting for a vigil for all and pushed to take the October 7th date off so it could truly commemorate deaths off all before and after 10/7 too.
Melissa has stayed consistent as an America first candidate and I applaud her. Even though Lara had to mention his undying support for a foreign country he used his law background to make the right decision of no foreign flag.
Kudos to all the residents that stuck their neck out and spoke in person, private, via emails etc. Even though labels and Xenophobic slurs were hurled at them, they followed the democratic process to dissent. Lago can learn something about democracy from them.
Now focus on roads, schools and overdevelopment Mayor.
Way to go Lago……. Showing us who your boss is and city commissioners including Lara and vice mayor anderson pay attention. The mayor, your fellow colleague, totally disregarded your votes and your opinions to hijack the event. When you invite a consulate of another country that currently, even now is engaging in a genocide, you are making this political. Invite the rabbis, the pastors and imams, it was done and beautiful. Glad you got called out by the brave soil for your hypocrisy and frankly racism. Feel terrible for the congressional church congregation who showed up en mass to make this an event of unity for all lives.
Soul
@truth- The mayor cannot empathize with humans that aren’t the same as him or his friends.
Israel’s military said Wednesday that the ceasefire was back on in Gaza after it killed 104 people, including 46 children, according to local health officials.
46 CHILDREN!!!
Are these not war crimes?
AP The Associated Press v @AP.8h
BREAKING: Israeli strikes overnight in Gaza