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SALT LAKE CITY — A member of Utah's Jewish community was killed in the recent attacks Hamas militants launched against Israel, according to a local rabbi.
Rabbi Avremi Zippel announced that Lotan Abir was among the more than 1,000 killed since the surprise attack on Saturday.
"Lotan Abir. A member of the Young Jewish Professional Utah community," Rabbi Zippel posted on X, formerly Twitter. "Went to a rave Friday night. Confirmed among the 1,000+ dead in Israel. May his memory be for a blessing and May God avenge his blood."
Abir appears to have been killed during Hamas' attack on the Tribe of Nova music festival, where at least 260 were killed and an undetermined number of people were taken hostage. The incident is believed to be the worst civilian massacre in Israeli history, according to the Associated Press.
"Utah is overwhelmingly full of good people. It's time to show up," Rabbi Zippel said in a later post encouraging attendance at a rally to support Israel at the Capitol planned for Wednesday. "Our community is reeling. Death toll in the thousands. Images that are simply inhumane."
Several Utah synagogues received bomb threats following the Hamas attacks, although it's unclear if they are related.
Lotan Abir. A member of the Young Jewish Professional Utah community.
— Avremi Zippel (@UtahRabbi) October 10, 2023
Went to a rave Friday night.
Confirmed among the 1,000+ dead in Israel.
May his memory be for a blessing and May God avenge his blood. pic.twitter.com/NJpPiPlCYt
