Reliving October 7th
How will a day of terror be commemorated?
It has been 11 months, 331 days, 7,944 hours, and 476,640 minutes since that fateful day that irrevocably changed everything. It was a day that reshaped my life as a Jewish woman and the lives of Jewish communities across the globe. October 7th, 2023, will forever be etched into our hearts, our souls, and our collective psyche as a trauma comparable only to the horrors of the Holocaust. It was a day marked by unspeakable violence and terror, a day that shattered our sense of security and revealed the monstrous forces that seek to annihilate us. This day stands as a stark reminder of our vulnerability and the profound resilience required to face such unimaginable darkness.
Early in the morning on October 7th, Southern Israel was jolted awake by the sound of missiles being launched from Gaza. For the residents of the region, the sound of incoming missiles is a sadly familiar reality, and initially, there was a sense of routine rather than panic. However, as the bombardment persisted, families hastily gathered their children and sought refuge in their safe rooms, or bomb shelters. What the Israelis did not yet realize was that the real threat lay not in the missiles themselves, but in the grim reality that they served as a diversion—a sinister ploy to obscure the true, more devastating danger that was unfolding.
While attention was given to the hundreds of bombs bombarding the country, meanwhile thousands of Hamas and Palestinian terrorists were infiltrating the country to commit the genocide that they prioritize in their own charter. They breached the security fence with the backing of Iran’s formidable strength and resources. They were armed with grenades, assault rifles, RPGs, knives, machetes and other weapons. They crossed into Israel with only one mission; to torture and massacre Israeli people.
On October 7th, the Gaza envelope of Israel which includes many small peaceful communities (kibbutzim and moshavim) became our “ground zero”. These communities became blood baths. It was the worst terrorist attack in recent history and more lives were lost per capita than in 9/11. On that fateful day, monsters savagely and barbarically committed some of the most heinous crimes against humanity in modern day history. Thousands of savages ravaged through homes, holding the residents prisoner as they gleefully tortured family members in front of one another. They burnt babies in ovens, sliced open the stomach of pregnant women, they burnt children alive in front of parents and they dismembered the bodies of loved ones while live streaming it to their family members. The atrocities that occurred on October 7th were horrors that were too great to even use in horror films. These terrorists documented all of their work with GoPro cameras to celebrate their success.
The horrors did not end there. There was the Nova Festival too. It is a yearly celebration of peace and music bringing thousands of music lovers to the south. On October 7th, it became the sight of violence, rape and mutilation. The terrorists came down onto the crowds from the sky on hand gliders and blocked off roads with their trucks. Hundreds of these savages reigned terror on these innocent civilians who were simply there to enjoy life and celebrate music. They used RPGs to blow up cars that tried to escape. They moved from car to car, assassinating anyone they found. They gang raped women before shooting them in the head or sexually assaulted men and dismembered them. They cut off the breasts of women and tossed them like a ball while continuing to rape and murder. They threw grenades into bomb shelters, killing all the occupants. The list of atrocities goes on and on.
Unfortunately, the tragedies of October 7th did not end that day either. It has been October 7th each and every day since then for the Jewish nation as we live with the knowledge that these monsters in dark tunnels are holding innocent hostages and the torture and rape hasn’t stopped. On October 7th, these savages dragged 254 innocent people into Gaza to hold them hostage. They stole children, babies, elderly, women and men. Today there are still 101 hostages remaining. Just a few short days ago, there were 107 hostages remaining but once again these monsters showed us their dark souls and lack of humanity. After surviving 11 months of horror, they executed 6 hostages with a bullet to their heads.
The anguish of October 7th and every day since is deeply etched into our souls and will forever reside in our hearts. However, the parallel trauma lies in the global response to these atrocities, which we have witnessed unfold around the world since that day. This response—often marked by indifference, misinformation, or outright denial—presents a profound and difficult-to-comprehend anguish that is as challenging to grasp and digest as the original horrors themselves.
When terror struck U.S. soil on September 11th, 2001, and the world watched in shock as the towers fell, people across the Western world mourned the innocent victims and demanded justice. Streets around the globe were filled with expressions of solidarity for the American people during their time of profound trauma.
When Israel faced similar trauma at the hands of radical Islamist, the global reaction was deeply troubling. In addition to those who deny the events outright, the UN has failed to condemn the violence. The international community has often sought to justify these acts, and even women's rights movements have demanded "proof" of the rapes that occurred. Meanwhile, violent protesters have taken to the streets, donning symbolic keffiyehs to conceal their identities while targeting and intimidating Jewish communities. Political silence has prevailed as Jewish communities around the world face hostility from terrorist sympathizers who distort history and issue threats to our very existence.
For nearly a year now, our university campuses have been plagued by hate and terror. Jewish students have faced regular assaults and have been obstructed in their studies. Encampments reminiscent of those from Nazi Germany were allowed to persist for months, flagrantly violating Canadian human rights laws and subjecting Jewish students to persistent hate speech and harassment.
The anxiety within the Jewish community is escalating as we face the daunting prospect of sending our children back into environments tainted by hate, such as universities and schools. The question of how to safeguard them from harm looms large. Reflecting on the past 365 days, we brace ourselves for the possibility of witnessing a recurrence of the horrors experienced on October 7th, 2023. We attempt to steel ourselves for the inevitable waves of hate and the continued silence from leaders who have consistently failed us. As we approach October 7th, 2024, we grapple with the uncertainty of what will be tolerated and what new forms of hostility might emerge. The ongoing struggle is not just about protecting our children but also confronting a pervasive climate of indifference and prejudice that continues to erode our sense of safety and justice.
October 7th will forever remain a day of mourning for us. We will grieve the 1,400 innocent victims of the massacre, as well as the 700 Israeli soldiers who fell in their valiant struggle to defend our existence. We will mourn the erosion of security for Jewish communities worldwide as we face unprecedented levels of hate. We will lament the betrayal of trust in governments that have failed to unequivocally stand with the Jewish people and declare, “Never again is NOW.” We will mourn the loss of our children’s innocence, as that day starkly revealed that their lives are valued differently from others. The notion that Jewish lives are expendable, regardless of individual merit, will forever shadow us. We will also mourn the degradation of humanity in a world where violence and hatred are increasingly normalized, particularly against the Jewish people. This profound sense of loss extends beyond the immediate to a broader crisis of compassion and justice in our society.
The Jewish community awaits October 7th with apprehensive anticipation, questioning how leaders in governments and educational institutions will respond. Will they take a stand with moral clarity, acknowledging the day as one of mourning and remembrance? Or will they capitulate to radical elements, potentially framing the day as one of “resistance” rather than addressing the atrocities committed?
Will the massacre of ten babies under the age of one be characterized as mere "resistance," or will it be recognized for the heinous act that it is? Furthermore, will leaders choose to issue balanced messages that, instead of acknowledging the specific terrorist nature of the violence, blur the lines and misrepresent it as part of a broader Middle Eastern conflict? The way these questions are answered will profoundly impact the Jewish community's sense of justice and security, and will reveal much about the commitment of institutions to uphold moral and ethical standards in the face of terror.
The war in Gaza should not be used to obscure or diminish the terrorist atrocities of October 7th. On that day, Israel was not engaged in any conflict with Gaza; it was peacefully observing Jewish holidays when it was violently assaulted by terrorists. The victims were not casualties of war or soldiers; they were innocent babies sleeping in their cribs and children who were burned alive in their parents' arms. This was unequivocally terrorism—a heinous crime against humanity marked by barbarism and savagery. It must be recognized for what it truly was, not misrepresented as a mere aspect of war or conflict. As we reflect on that horrific day, the crucial question remains: how will leaders address and commemorate the events of October 7th? Will they confront the atrocity with the clarity and resolve it demands, or will they allow the narrative to be distorted?
As Jewish communities will mourn and remember, we also will find strength in our unity and resilience, determined to honour the memory of those lost and to protect the future of our people. This day will always remind us of the fragility of peace and the enduring need for vigilance and solidarity. My hopes are that people in leadership around the world in both governments and educational institutions will honour the Jewish people who have lost so much with this day to mourn.
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