Heroes of October 7th

 

A Project by Hadassa Ben Ari
Illustrations by Tehila Bar-Hama

©2024 Yedioth Ahronoth -- Chemed Books

Many people will be marking the one-year anniversary of October 7th in many ways. This recently released book is a testament to the bravery and valor of so many on that horrible day. The subtitle of the book is "Heroic Stories for Children," and to that end, there are two introductory essays about what it means to be a hero and "How Do We Talk to Our Children About October 7th?" Both offer helpful tips to broach a difficult subject. While the 71 stories should probably be read by younger readers with parental directive, it is a book for all ages to learn  This could be the first of ten volumes, as the Iron Swords War has produced heroes on the battlefield and on the home front. You can also visit the website.

Each account is two pages and is accompanied by an illustration. They are about soldiers and civilians, people of all ages and backgrounds (and a dog). One can read the book in one sitting and be awed by the heroism of October 7th, or read a story at a time, learn more about the heroes, and grieve for the void left by those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

One heroine that stood out is Orly Ezra, who opens her home to soldiers that need showers, food, or rest. "Orly, the guardian angel of our soldiers in the north, has a saying, a guaranteed path to victory: 'What do you need in order to move the biggest desert in the world, the Sahara desert?' she aks, and immediately replies -- 'for each person to pick up a single grain of sand.'"

Another hero was Naro, a dog from the Oketz unit of the IDF. He was dispatched to locate terrorists and weapons. Naro revealed the location of an ambush waiting for the Oketz soldiers and attacked them. The unit's soldiers neutralized the terrorist cell. Naro was killed during the incident.

Mural by Liran Tapiro at entrance to new war room in Re'im
"The flowers will continue to bloom"

The illustrations do not show faces, so we wanted to put some faces to the names in the book. May God avenge their blood, and may their memories be a blessing.

Neria and Daniel Sharabi

Salman Habaka

Amit Mann