Journalist I was born in Venezuela to a family descended from Spanish Jews. In my childhood, I don’t remember experiencing antisemitism until Chávez came to power. When I was studying journalism at university, some people told me that I was very nice and that I “didn’t look Jewish at all.” Instead of feeling offended by these comments, they motivated me to become an unofficial ‘ambassador’ of the Jewish people. Being a journalist is, in a way, a fulfillment of this mission. I arrived in Kfar Aza a week after the massacre, and I still remember the strong smell of the burned houses. I recall entering one of the homes and seeing the same toys my children have. The entire house was covered in soot, except for the bathroom. There, standing in a row, were electric toothbrushes, waiting to be used. That sight shook me to my core. That family would ...

Metula – The northernmost village in Israel “For me, Metula was love at first sight. Even before October 7th, my wife and I had decided to move here, despite the fact that it meant living at the northernmost edge of the country – we are much closer to Beirut than to Tel Aviv. Living here comes with significant security implications, which existed long before October 7th. But despite the serious security risks, the landscapes and the unique atmosphere outweighed everything. We found a beautiful spot with a breathtaking view overlooking the entire Hula Valley, and I thought to myself that everyone should be able to enjoy this beauty. At that moment, I decided that I would build a cozy guest cabin with a big window facing the most beautiful view in the country. That’s also how we decided to name the cabin – “A Window to the Valley.” I didn’t ...

Metula – The northernmost village in Israel “On October 7th, we spent ‘Simchat Torah’ holiday in Even Menachem, a small community in the western Galilee in northern Israel. That Shabbat, I had planned to go to synagogue to celebrate the holiday, but my plans quickly changed. Around 6:30 in the morning, the first news reports began to emerge about a missile attack in the south of Israel. As someone who observes Shabbat, I wasn’t following the media or social networks, but I could feel the growing commotion around me as people started talking about the attack. The moment it truly hit me – that this wasn’t just another missile attack, we had sadly grown accustomed to – was when I saw the videos. The horrifying footage showed terrorists infiltrating communities, massacring people, and abducting them into Gaza. As we began to grasp the gravity of the situation, there was growing ...

Kfar Aza “After October 7th, we knew we had no choice but to move forward, even if our hearts remained behind. We relocated to Kfar Saba – not by choice, but out of necessity. There, we found a warm home, furnished with what little we managed to bring from Kfar Aza. There was space for the children, but not for all of them together – the house was too small to truly accommodate us, at least not in the way we were used to. It was a default decision, and we understood it was only temporary. There was no room for us in kibbutz Shefayim, ((the kibbutz most of Kfar Aza’s residents were evacuated to), so we gave up our spot for young parents who needed the local educational facilities for their children. We chose to carve out a different space for ourselves. In hindsight, maybe it was for the ...

Father of Staff Sgt. Yaron ‘Noni’ Shay who was Killed in action in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom on the southern Gaza Strip border, on October 7th. ‘Next October initiative’ “On the occasion of his sixth birthday, I asked Yaron what he blesses himself with. ‘That I will live until God asks for me.’ That’s what he answered me, in a video filmed with a home camera, whose existence we forgot until we watched it after he fell in battle. A 6-year-old child who grew up in a secular home, wishing for himself to live until God asks. And he lived until God asked for him. A wonderful life, full of happiness, love, and a deep care for others. He lived life as though there was no time, truly devouring it. As if he had to accomplish everything, like someone who constantly remembers that at some point, God will ask for him. ...

Kibbutz Samar, Arava valley Mother of Keshet Casarotti who was murdered at the Nova music festival “I was born in Argentina and made Aliyah to Israel when I was four years old with my family out of sheer Zionism. After my military service, I came to Kibbutz Samar, which is located in the Arava Valley in the far south of Israel, where I have lived for the past 30 years I have three children: Anan (Cloud), Keshet (Rainbow), who will be 21 forever, and Shemesh (Sun). Keshet went to dance at the Nova Music festival on October 7th and never came back. Keshet was with Shani Louk, Orion Hernandez, and other friends at the party. They tried to escape and in Mefalsim junction, not far from the party, he was trying to call an ambulance for Shani who had suffered severe leg injuries. The Emergency Call Center assured him that ...