A group of bereaved Israeli teens whose siblings were killed during Israel’s war in Gaza toured Beverly Hills as part of a trip to the Los Angeles region last weekend, said Vice Mayor Sharona Nazarian, who accompanied the teens on a walking tour with Councilmember Craig Corman.
During their visit, the teens met Beverly Hills Police Department officers including Police Dog NAMI, toured a Beverly Hills Fire Department station and attended Shabbat services at Young Israel of North Beverly Hills.
YINBH Rabbi Aryeh Pearlstein said a member of the synagogue sponsored lunch for the group, which sang songs, danced and ate with members of the local community.
It was overall a very moving and powerful experience,” Pearlstein said.
Nazarian said it was important to remind the teens that the Beverly Hills community loves and supports them, and she said they were deeply moved by the city’s solidarity.
“It’s important that those directly affected by the war, and the world at large, know that Beverly Hills stands for justice, peace and unity,” Nazarian said.
The visit followed an Aug. 20 decision by the Beverly Hills City Council to reinstall a flag display memorializing Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. The installation, which will stand from Sept. 30 to Oct. 14, coinciding with the High Holy Days, will provide the community a special place to mourn and reflect.
The council also agreed to continue discussions on establishing a permanent Oct. 7 memorial.
