03/10/2026
October 7, 2023. 6:29 in the morning.
Shabbat. Simchat Torah.
A day that was supposed to be filled with joy, the celebration of the Torah, became one of the darkest days in the history of the State of Israel.
At the Nova music festival, more than 3,500 people had gathered to dance and celebrate life. 364 of them were brutally murdered.
Today, we mark the Hebrew-calendar anniversary of the atrocities of October 7.
For Israelis, Simchat Torah will never feel exactly the same.
We remember the families who woke up that morning and lost everything. We remember the communities that were attacked. We remember those who were murdered, those who were taken hostage, and the soldiers and civilians who ran toward danger to save others.
And we must remember what happened—not only the numbers, but the hatred that made such brutality possible.
One of the hardest things for me is watching people try to understand this conflict only through slogans, often through the reality they know from their own countries, Their own context of life and culture rather than the reality of the Middle East and Israel.
When I hear the words “From the river to the sea,” I know exactly what it means. It means death to my family and my country. It was sold to the West as a Palestinian state but they meant no more Israel and if you're buying it you're playing their game.
Words matter. Facts matter. History matters.
We should be very careful not to allow slogans, hatred, or misinformation to replace truth and understanding.
We remember October 7.
We remember the victims.
We remember those who fell defending us.
And we choose life.
May their memories be a blessing forever.
Let us be a light for truth.
Let’s tour Israel together. 🇮🇱
Yoav
