The October 7 massacre was a brutal series of terrorist attacks along the Gaza border, when Hamas terrorists under the cover of a barrage of rocket fire infiltrated several Israeli towns, cities, and IDF bases.
The resulting attacks stretched as far east as Ofakim in the Negev and resulted in at least 1,200 people murdered and hundreds taken hostage by Hamas back to Gaza.
Occurring on the morning of the Simchat Torah holiday, the October 7 massacre kicked off Operation Swords of Iron, the code name for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.
"We did everything that could be expected of us as a medical team. With God’s help, we will come out of this situation stronger and better off."
"We’re all human, and a little girl who’s been injured isn’t something to which you can turn a blind eye. There’s something about it that penetrates you and touches your soul."
“I’m proud of the Blood Services staff, who haven’t stopped working for a single moment and haven’t rested since the morning of October 7."
The family was prepared to support Erez for his bar mitzvah without his father, who remains in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
Prior to the presentation of each award, a video was shown in which the heroes and heroines or close relatives of those who had been murdered were interviewed in their homes or in the fields nearby.
Even in their temporary homes, the ongoing war along Israel's borders is all too present for evacuees and families.
Is there any hope left for completely changing these conditions to achieve popular peace?
Omer’s mother, is calling on others around the world to do an act of kindness and to bring light into the world, as Omer has now spent 391 days in Hamas captivity.
For the first time in recent memory, the Jewish people were faced with the challenge of adapting an ancient holiday to modern events.
"That Shabbat will stay with me for the rest of my life."