RJC Abroad: Southern Israel

Shalom Friends -- Yesterday, on our last full day in Israel, we visited kibbutz Kfar Aza, Nahal Oz military base, and the site of the Nova Music Festival, which were all brutally attacked on October 7th. It was an incredibly intense day.

As we know, on the morning of October 7, 2023, simultaneous invasions began at approximately 6:30 am local time on Shabbat at 70 initial breach points, including at kibbutz Kfar Aza. As mosque loudspeakers broadcast that the security barriers were down, Hamas was followed into Israel by “ordinary civilians” who came across the border and committed some of the worst atrocities—murdering, raping, and looting from Israelis, some of whom had considered Gazans to be their friends.

We drove from Jerusalem down Road 232 to Kfar Aza, the same thoroughfare where Hamas murdered civilians in their cars and along the road. Upon arrival, IDF Maj. Liad Diamond led us on a somber walk through the kibbutz in the steps of Ofir Libstein, the head of the local regional council, who was murdered near his home while defending his family and neighbors. Ofir’s son, Nitzan Libstein, his mother-in-law, Bilha Epstein, and his wife's nephew, Netta Epstein, were all also killed. Along that road, dubbed the “road of death”, not a single home in the center of the kibbutz was unaffected by the horrors of 10/7.

As we walked, active mortar fire sounded in the distance, as operations are actively ongoing in northern Gaza.

(Briefing at Kfar Aza, one of the communities hardest hit on Oct. 7.)

There are so many stories to tell of the absolute barbarity inflicted on this community, but I will highlight a few:

We met Shachar, who, with his wife Ayelet, have lived at Kfar Aza for over 20 years. They came back, almost immediately, in December 2023. Over the course of the war, they have fed thousands of soldiers, out of their own pockets, with their now-famous backyard barbecues. When we asked him if others in the community would also return, he pointed down the street at 5 houses, and stated that maybe 1 of the 5 would return - many had been killed or kidnapped, and would never come back.

As we made our way further into the kibbutz, we passed by the home of Keith and Aviva Siegel, both of whom had been kidnapped by Hamas and subsequently released in separate hostage deals after months in terror tunnels.

We visited the home of Sivan Elkabets, who, along with Naor Hassidim, was murdered there. Sivan’s parents, Shimon and Anat, have turned the home into a visitors exhibit in memory of their daughter to bear witness to Hamas’s atrocities. As we stepped into the bullet-ridden home, personal items were still strewn on the floors, the safe room was totally demolished, and pictures lined the walls to show where Sivan and Naor’s blood had been shed. We lit memorial candles in what was left of the kitchen and inscribed notes in a visitors book for the family, expressing our deepest condolences. Upon exiting the home, Maj. Diamond noticed that Anat was just outside, a few steps away, recording a remembrance video with a small film crew. We met with her for a few minutes; the anguish and pain were clear on her face. She told us how important it was for us all to be here, and said, “We teach our children to love and to be Jewish. This will only end when they stop teaching their children to hate.”

(At Sivan's House, a visitors exhibit in the Kfar Aza home where Sivan Elkabets and Naor Hassidim were murdered on Oct. 7.)

More than 60 people were murdered on October 7th at kibbutz Kfar Aza, and 19 hostages were taken; 2 remain in captivity. As the community attempts to rebuild and reckon with what occurred here, a major question is, how exactly do they rebuild: What do they take down? What do they choose to remember? Rebuild? Or leave it as it is to show the world, in infamy?

As we departed for Nahal Oz, Maj. Diamond pointed to an Israeli farmer driving a tractor in the fields. This is what victory looks like, he said; we will return here and live again. He’s right: there is a 4-year-long wait list to come and join the community at Kfar Aza. 

On October 7th, the military base at Nahal Oz was totally overrun. Hamas used sophisticated drones to blind security cameras, then breached the perimeter fencing. On the base, we stepped into the destroyed command center, where 15 IDF soldiers were burned alive after Hamas was unable to enter the building. In a surreal moment, we entered the central bomb shelter for the base where 5 young Israeli women were held at gunpoint, bloodied and terrified in a now-infamous video of Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy. All 5 were released after 482 days of hell in Hamas captivity. Just days ago, we were in Birkenau for the March of the Living, where Agam played Shir Hamaalot on a 130-year-old violin that survived the Holocaust. Their collective strength is beyond words.

(Briefing at the Nahal Oz military base from which Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy were abducted on Oct. 7.)

Our final stop was at the site of the Nova Music Festival massacre. We drove on the dirt road that had been full of bullet-ridden cars and bodies. Approximately 4,000 people attended the festival; 379 were murdered and 44 were kidnapped. As we walked near the main stage, surrounded by trees, glitter from the party still clings to the earth and lights up in the sun. The venue was crowded in advance of Yom HaZikaron, with families and soldiers bearing witness to the horrors of October 7th. Maj. Diamond told us the story of one young Israeli woman who was murdered, Libby Cohen Meguri (age 22):

After completing her army service as an officer in an infantry unit, Libby spent time abroad, touring in South America for seven months. She cut the trip short to attend the Nova music party, surprising her family by coming home early. She drove to the camping area, arriving late that Friday night. Early Saturday morning, around 5:30 am, the party crescendoed and attendees danced together as the sun started to rise. At 6:30 am, rocket barrages began from Gaza. Local police shut down the party and told everyone to go home. As attendees began to disperse around 7:00 am onto Road 232, Hamas terrorists had already infiltrated Israel, setting up ambushes on roads and intersections surrounding the area, shooting at vehicles and kidnapping people. Libby managed to get into a car with her friend, Adi Maizel, onto Road 232 towards kibbutz Re’im. Near the kibbutz intersection, Adi was shot and killed immediately. Libby was shot in the abdomen. With her final strength, Libby called her mother, Shelly, saying, “Mom, I’ve been shot.” Shelly didn’t really understand what was happening in the moment, but heard gunfire and Arabic in the background, and began to yell, asking Libby where she was and what was going on. Libby answered her softly: “אימא - I’ve been shot, don’t yell. I want to tell you that I love you, I love Dad.” Libby was murdered in a volley of shots that the family heard on the call. 

Shelly described her daughter as “the happiest person this world has ever known. She was a chunk of energy, happy, light, and laughing, from the moment she woke in the morning until the moment she went to sleep.”

This is only one story out of many—all these young people did was come to celebrate life, and they were murdered.

(At the site of the Nova dance festival, where 379 people were murdered and 44 were kidnapped on Oct. 7.)

We arrived back in Jerusalem before heading to Ben Gurion airport. Just before departing, a siren pierced the evening sky, signifying the start of Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. Traffic stopped, and everyone stood in place for a moment of silence. 25,420 soldiers have died defending Israel since its founding. We honor their memories and incredible sacrifice so that our people may live freely in our homeland.

570 days since October 7th, this country is still very much in trauma. 59 hostages remain captive in Gaza, and Israel continues to be surrounded by very serious threats along every border.

From Birkenau to Nova, they have tried to annihilate us—but we are still here. We have a Jewish state that can defend itself and soldiers with boundless courage.

We have seen the tremendous resilience and unyielding strength of our people here in Israel—together, I have no doubt that we will win.

This Leadership Mission reminds us why what we all do is so important for the Jewish people and the Jewish homeland.

Next year in Jerusalem. Am Yisrael Chai.

Sincerely,

Norm Coleman
National Chairman, RJC