While chaos and danger continues to threaten Gaza, Syracuse University students are taking a moment for peaceful reflection to show sympathy for the people affected.

The Muslim Student Association of SU is holding a public candlelight vigil for the people of Gaza tonight at 5:30 p.m. on the steps of Hendricks Chapel.

‘The vigil is a simple yet very powerful way to remember and sympathize with the people of Gaza who have been suffering for decades now,’ said Raed Sharif, one of the event’s organizers, in an e-mail to The Daily Orange. ‘We want to send a message of respect and support to the people of Gaza.’

Tula Goenka, a television, radio and film professor also organizing the event, said the vigil is about the people, not the politics.

‘It’s not about good and bad to me,’ she said. ‘It’s about how you can’t keep coming back to this kind of war.’

The vigil will include a speech from Sharif, a doctoral student in information science and technology and a native of Gaza who still has family and friends living there. Ahmed Al-Salem, MSA president, Rev. Kelly N. Sprinkle, interim dean of Hendricks Chapel, and Andy Mager of the Syracuse Peace Council will also speak.

Grammy Award winner Joanne Shenandoah from the Oneida Indian Nation will perform at the vigil, as well as the Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20.

Goenka said that after talking to Sharif and seeing the tough time he was going through with his family, the two decided to hold the vigil.

Sharif said he contacted Hendricks Chapel to find out the appropriate procedure for arranging a vigil. After receiving support from the SU International Office and other university officials, Sharif was able to schedule the vigil in less than a week.

Sharif said his family was forced to evacuate their home in northern Gaza and have since struggled to find food, water and medical service for more than six months.

‘I have been sitting in front of my computer and TV watching the news and calling Gaza every hour, expecting in any minute to hear that my house was destroyed or a member of my family has been killed,’ he said. ‘I spent the last 15 days in stress, sadness and frustration without being able to do anything to stop my family and friends’ suffering.’

Goenka said she hopes to spark discussion and let people know in a non-confrontational way that there are two sides to every story.Lowell Lustig, executive director of Hillel, SU’s Jewish student union, said he hopes discussion can come from this situation.

‘We are hopeful that the activities taking place this week on campus will be the beginning of new opportunities for dialogue,’ Lustig said.

He said the Jewish community on campus will also take part in the day of observation, by sponsoring ‘Wear Your Pride: Blue and White Day.’ They will wear blue and white and pass out stickers that say, ‘Wherever We Stand, We Stand With Israel.’ Their activities will end with singing Israeli songs outside of the Schine Student Center at 4:30 p.m. From there, they will bus to the Syracuse Jewish Community Center at 5 p.m. for a ‘Syracuse Supports Israel Rally.’

Goenka said she is unsure of what the turnout will be, but that she has purchased a lot of candles.

‘The vigil isn’t about what side people are on,’ she said. ‘Aggression and violence has to stop.’

Published on January 12, 2009 at 12:00 pm