After October 7, five women, three of them childhood friends, came together to found “Comfort Object”, an initiative that gives new life to items rescued from the destroyed homes of residents of Israel’s western Negev. Along the way, it has managed to offer a measure of hope to people who lost nearly everything. Among the salvaged items are a bench that survived a fire, a bullet-riddled armchair that served as a silent witness to the horrors, and the only object that remained from the home of the late Yossi Sharabi.
David’s Light Still Shines
“To be able to have coffee whenever we want” – that was how David Meir, of blessed memory, defined economic independence. He worked to help those around him gain financial literacy. David grew up in the community of Kochav HaShachar, founded by his parents, and served in the IDF’s elite Sayeret Matkal unit. On October 7, he was among the first to reach the Gaza border communities and was killed in battle at Kibbutz Be’eri. A special edition of the book “The Psychology of Money” has now been released in his memory.
Life On an American University Campus, in the Immediate Aftermath of October 7
Ayelet Glaser was a student at Columbia University on October 7, 2023. Her experiences during the days that followed led directly to her “Aliyah” – her immigration to Israel, where she lives today. Here she shares some of what she saw, heard and felt during that life-changing period.
The Song of the Sticker: Hope and Loss in Israeli Commemorative Culture
They cover the walls of train stations, the sides of bus stops, and the poles of street lamps. Smiling faces, a familiar phrase, and sometimes a QR code leading to a memorial website. The National Library is creating an archive that will collect and preserve the stickers commemorating the victims of the Nova festival and those who have fallen in the war. Why is it important to preserve these memorial stickers, how should it be done, and what meaning does this kind of documentation hold for bereaved families?
Michel Kichka Illustrates Our World
Great talent, optimism, sensitivity, compassion, and a deep love for this country, which he had longed to reach since childhood, all come together in Michel Kichka, making him one of Israel’s greatest graphic artists. We spoke with him about what led to the creation of his most personal graphic memoir, why he insists on keeping the family name “Kichka,” and what it was like working with Meir Shalev.
Remembering Jawad Amer: The War’s First Fallen Druze Soldier
On the third day of the ongoing war, Jawad, 23, was killed in battle, the first of 14 Druze-Israeli soldiers to fall. His family and his hometown of Hurfeish remember him with pride.
Yotam Haim’s “Wings of Spirit”
Without knowing how to read music, a heartbroken high school student composed a melody to words by Rabbi Kook that gave her strength. When the song spread its wings and began circulating widely, she could hardly believe how many others found in it the same strength and comfort it had offered her. This is the story of how that song, composed in the 1990s, made its way onto an album commemorating the late Yotam Haim, who was abducted by Hamas into Gaza.
Orr Blumovitz, the Soldier Who Never Stopped Reading – Even in the Tank
When Orr Blumovitz was born, his parents could not have known that naming him after a beloved book character would set him on a path filled with endless hours of reading and hundreds of books—a life rich in knowledge, curiosity, and giving. Books shaped Orr’s world until his tragic death in an attack targeting an IDF armored vehicle in June 2024. Today, they form a lasting part of his legacy.
What Happened to the Thorny Lovers’ Garden of Kibbutz Nir Oz?
A 50-year-old news article illuminates the deep bond between Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz from Nir Oz, who nurtured not only their love but also a unique and remarkable garden in their kibbutz. Both were abducted from their home on October 7, and now Yocheved waits for her beloved Oded’s return.
A Musical Gift Left Behind: Remembering Guy Illouz
Guy Illouz, 26, was carving a career in the music business. Hamas terrorists shot Illouz at the Nova festival and kidnapped him to Gaza. Illouz died there of his wounds, and Hamas continues to hold his body hostage.
