(Courtesy of Touro University) On October 7, undergraduate students at Touro University’s Lander Colleges went to Washington, D.C. to commemorate the first anniversary of the brutal Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The focal point of the trip was a memorial and rally on the National Mall, in which the students joined thousands of other individuals to remember what took place that fateful day. The event not only paid homage to the memories of the lives lost that day, but was also a forum for reiterating our unequivocal support for Israel and the urgent need to return the 101 hostages still held captive by Hamas.

The rally featured a diverse group of speakers, including Omer Netzer, father of hostage Sagui Netzer, Israeli Olympian AJ Edelman and First Nations Chief Joseph and Laralyn Riverwind. The event reinforced the need for solidarity in rallying around Israel’s security and survival against adversary after adversary.

In addition to participating in the rally, Professor Daniel Friedman arranged a series of enriching educational experiences for the students. The group attended an appeal at the U.S. Federal Claims Court, observing a patent case involving Fitbit and Garmin. Following this, they toured the historic building, which has served multiple roles over the years, such as First Lady Dolley Madison’s residence and NASA’s headquarters, before becoming the Federal Claims Court.

Later, the students explored the halls of Congress, touring the Senate floor, the office of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Speaker’s Balcony. The unique access to these significant locations was largely made possible by Judge Matthew Solomson. His dedicated efforts and commitment to providing these students with invaluable experiences greatly enriched their understanding of government operations.

“It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I am so grateful to have seen how our government works from that close,” said Lander College for Men student Elazar Jacobs.

While the trip deepened the students’ understanding of U.S. political institutions, its core was the commemoration of the tragic events of October 7. By participating in this important anniversary, the students not only honored the victims but also engaged in critical conversations about Israel’s security, the return of hostages, and the broader implications of political solidarity in the face of terrorism.