Michal Admoni endured a great deal of suffering and difficulty in her life, after a medical procedure left her disabled. Writing became her refuge, a means of self-realization, and a remedy for her pain. She shared her insights and love with others—both her readers and her neighbors in Kfar Aza, who used to come to her porch seeking encouragement and comfort through conversation. On October 7, she was murdered with her son Guy, just before she finished writing her third book.
Bilhah Yinon: The Woman Who Created a New, Better World – From Scrap
Bilhah, who was murdered along with her husband on October 7, was an artist full of optimism, compassion, and good-heartedness. She dedicated her life to educating younger generations to love and preserve nature. The adorable children’s book character she created is part of her legacy.
Marcel Freilich-Kaplon: The Scientist Who Brought Chemistry to Israeli Schoolchildren
Some teachers just have that extra “something” – a true passion for what they teach and for making it accessible to their students. These are the kinds of teachers who dedicate themselves to passing on their knowledge with burning enthusiasm and immense determination. Dr. Marcel Freilich-Kaplon was exactly this kind of teacher. She embodied a rare combination of wisdom, passion, and boundless dedication. The vitality and love that burned deep within her came to a tragic end on October 7. However, the books that Marcel and her colleagues authored remain with us, carrying on her legacy.
Who Is the Empty Chair at the Passover Seder Intended for?
Along with the ancient tradition of leaving an empty chair on the Seder Night for Elijah the Prophet, a modern Zionist tradition has developed in which we leave an empty chair for our loved ones who have not yet returned from captivity. In the 1970s-80s, these were the “Prisoners of Zion”. Today these are the hostages of October 7. “Let my people go,” Moses commanded Pharaoh in the name of God, and thousands of years later the same call is carried in Passover celebrations around the world, and with it we leave an empty chair and a glass of wine waiting for every single one of them to return
Women on the Homefront in 1973: How the Kibbutzim Coped With War
When the Yom Kippur War broke out, the women of Kibbutz Beit Alfa mobilized to protect the delicate fabric of community life, something that happened across Israel. They were determined and resourceful, despite the uncertainty and anxiety: “All we thought about was how we’d survive the next day.”
Refugees of the Yom Kippur War: The Evacuees of Mevo Hama
The women and children of Kibbutz Mevo Hama in the southern Golan Heights were evacuated with the start of the Yom Kippur War. They didn’t know the true drama was yet to come: A surprising accident en route to safety was just the first of many challenges the kibbutz members had to deal with in the nerve-wracking months before the cease-fire agreements.
