The Israeli Embassy called for the lighting of buildings in orange in commemoration of the Bibas children, hoping that the illuminations would serve as a powerful gesture of remembrance and solidarity.
The symbolic lightings were intended to honor the memories of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the two young Israeli boys who were viciously murdered by Hamas while being held captive in Gaza. (Their bodies were returned to Israel on Feb. 20.)
Israel’s Foreign Ministry chose the color orange as it came to symbolize the plight of the young family since Oct. 7, 2023, because of Ariel and Kfir’s striking bright orange hair.
Everyone who was asked locally to display orange lights complied, including, in Virginia Beach: The Sandler Family Campus, the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort, and the Summer House apartments; and in Norfolk: The Wells Fargo Building and The Main.
“We are now and always going to support our Jewish brothers and sisters in this regard,” said Bruce Thompson, CEO of Gold Key Resorts, about responding to the request, and when referring to “a loving orange glow” for his properties.
Israeli embassy buildings around the world were illuminated, as was the Knesset in Jerusalem.
Multiple locations across the United States were also lit orange – from San Francisco to Beverly Hills to New York.
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that 14 landmarks across the state would be illuminated orange on Friday, Feb. 21.
“Our hearts are broken as we mourn Ariel and Kfir Bibas, who were brutally murdered by Hamas in an act of callous and unthinkable cruelty,” Hochul said.
In Argentina, where the Bibas family held Argentine citizenship, many buildings were lit in the orange hue, including in Bueno Aires.
