Immediately after October 7th, when we began to comprehend the scale of the disaster that befell us and internalize the horrors and devastation, we called the Holocaust survivors with whom we are in contact to check on their well-being. During the conversation, we discovered that we emerged stronger, more than we had strengthened them.
The exact words that came out of their mouths, the empowerment and resilience they built throughout their lives in general, but particularly during the Holocaust, their unique life stories, and their coping mechanisms, provided us with the insight that even after the worst, a way can be found.
From this insight, we decided to connect the Holocaust survivors with the survivors of October 7th and create an open and authentic conversation between them. We sought to understand where the Holocaust survivors drew their strength to overcome their own disaster and what practical tools gave them hope.
The meetings were powerful, and the result was chilling and moving. The perspective presented by the Holocaust survivors on how they integrated their personal and collective trauma into their life journeys filled the participants with inspiration. With a sense of connection and a kind of shared fate, the possibility of rising again and continuing along the path woven by generations seems achievable.
Chava – Writer, born into the midst of World War II. She underwent challenging experiences from early childhood. The difficulty did not end with the war’s conclusion; even afterward, she faced rejection due to being a Jewish child in Poland. Over time, she sought therapy, dealt with the traumas of her childhood, and even began to write. Writing brought her back to the path of life and the feeling that she is healing herself by touching others with her written words. Today, she is a proud author and the recipient of many awards for her writing, both in Israel and around the world.
Niv – Artisan. A designer and builder of concrete creations. The Nova nature party was the first nature party he had ever attended. Niv arrived with his friends at 4:00 AM, and by 6:30 AM, he already realized they have to escape. During their escape they narrowly survived multiple encounters with death and, through great resourcefulness, managed to survive. Niv shares that this tragic event placed before him the challenge of searching for renewed meaning.
Avigdor – a Holocaust survivor from Auschwitz, where he lost most of his family; only he and his sister survived the hellish ordeal. Avigdor arrived in Israel, and for the first time, when he put on a uniform, he felt that he was protecting something of his own. Avigdor participated in all of Israel’s wars and built a proud family with his wife. He is proud and identifies with the country in which he first felt protected. Avigdor is constantly engaged in giving lectures about his story and has also accompanied delegations to Auschwitz as part of the “Witnesses in Uniform” program, where he had the surprise of celebrating his (late) Bar Mitzvah.
Tali – a religous woman who recently suffered a stroke. She lives in Ofakim and was at home with her family on Simchat Torah when terrorists entered her apartment block. The moment she saw them entering the neighborhood in the white van from her window remains vivid in her mind every day since. Tali feels that her home is no longer a fortress after the experience she went through, but on the other hand, she is grateful for the miracle that she and her family survived.
Naomi – A child psychologist, a Holocaust survivor from the Netherlands who arrived with her family at Bergen-Belsen. In Bergen-Belsen, she lost her twin sister and the rest of her family, except for her brother. After the war, she spent time with Jewish teenagers, and together they spoke and helped each other process what they had gone through. She arrived in Israel with her husband and son and built a large family. Naomi witnessed her parents in the most difficult situations in the camp, maintaining their humanity and kindness, and this experience guided her throughout her life, leading her to choose a profession dedicated to giving and helping others.
Sharon – a special education teacher and a mother from Kibbutz Be’eri. She was at home with her family in the bomb shelter when terrorists entered her house and tried to burn it with the residents inside. They spent many hours in the bomb shelter, and miraculously, her son, who risked his lifeleaving the shelter was also the one who saved them. Today, Sharon and her family still live in a hotel, and this ongoing struggle is not easy. From the overwhelming experience she went through, and in an attempt to cope with and process it, Sharon participates in several projects and shares her story. Additionally, she has also started a fascinating and moving podcast.
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