Ofer Lieberman
Farmer, Kibbutz Nir Am
Argaman, Wine House
“I’ve had a passion for wine my entire life, and in recent years, I felt the desire to take that passion a step further. This led me to open my wine house, ‘Argaman’. Originally, I had planned to open it in early August 2022, but living near the Gaza enclave means plans can change unexpectedly. In fact, a military operation at the beginning of August forced me to postpone the opening, and I ultimately opened Argaman at the end of the month. Since then, Argaman has become a welcoming home for wine lovers, both from the Gaza enclave and from across Israel.
After October 7th, I began opening my more expensive wine bottles without hesitation. At home, I have over 400 bottles, and the attack made me realize the importance of living in the present – because we never know when our last glass of wine might be. Despite the horrific events we endured, I made a conscious decision to remain optimistic. I refused to let myself fall into a deep depression, as it was crucial for me to maintain my sanity and support the well-being of my loved ones. This mindset is why, just a month after the October 7th attack, I chose to reopen my wine house.
When I reopened it, I had no idea how many people would show up. One? Ten? Or maybe no one at all? But I didn’t care. Above all, I opened it for myself – a place to go when I was feeling down. But beyond that, I reopened it to offer others a space where they could come together, share a glass of wine, cry, and begin processing the terrible trauma we had all endured. I am an optimistic person, and despite the horrific catastrophe we’ve faced, I firmly believe that we must look forward to the future. For me there is no other option.
I arrived at Kibbutz Nir Am in 1978, which means I’ve lived here for more than 46 years, and I’ve never considered leaving. When people ask why I don’t leave, I tell them that rockets could also reach Tel Aviv and If that’s the case, I’d rather stay in the kibbutz I love. Beyond that, living in Nir Am is pure Zionism – we cultivate the land, down to the very last inch by the border. For me, that’s a life with purpose. I’ve tried to pass these values on to my four daughters, all of whom served in the IDF. I never told them what to do, but I raised them to love their country and to think about what they could do for it. (Inbal Lieberman, daughter of Ofer, served as the security coordinator for Kibbutz Nir Am during the October 7th attack. Thanks to her decisive actions, Nir Am—despite being invaded by terrorists – suffered no casualties during the attacks.)
Despite October 7th, as a Jew, I believe Israel is the safest place for me on earth. Israel is one of the few countries in the world where, during a time of war, its citizens are eager to return, fighting for a seat on a plane to come back home. This is in stark contrast to the human instinct to flee a war zone. This is truly remarkable when you think about it.
I understand those who don’t want to return and live here, and I will never judge them. But for me, I want to live here. I love this place, this land, and the kibbutz where I’ve made my home. After October 7th, my family was scattered all across Israel, which was very difficult for me. But now, a year later, they’re beginning to come back to live in Nir Am. This has been one of the happiest things to happen to me since October 7th.”