There were a number of sessions that addressed the October 7, 2023 massacre at the 15th Annual Limmud Winnipeg Festival of Jewish Life and Learning held at the Asper Jewish Community Campus on March 23, 2023. Included among them were Gray Academy educator Naama Samphir’s presentation of her documentary Bearing Witness: A Journey of the Heart and Mind; Zion Regev’s Zoom presentation, “Rebuilding Kibbutz Kfar Aza: A Story of Resilience and Renewal”; and a panel discussion with Patrick Elazar, Judi Shuster, Lisa Lewis, and Stephen and Denise Cornish, “Giving back: Volunteer Journeys in Israel.”
In confronting and sharing the unspeakable savagery of the October 7 massacre, these 3 sessions served the critical need to counter the denial of the atrocities, honour the victims, and preserve historical truth—aims that the recently released Roberts Report detailing the atrocities has identified as essential.
Naama Samphir’s documentary, Bearing Witness: A Journey of the Heart and Mind, was co-created with Westwood Collegiate educator Kelly Hiebert following their participation in the first-ever Binat HaLev (“Journey of the Heart and Mind”) in July 2024. Binat HaLev was a 5-day professional experience in Israel for educators from across Canada funded by Jewish Federations. Its mission was to “bear witness” to the aftermath of the October 7 massacre and to bring back fact-based knowledge to share with other educators. The 42-minute video records first-hand harrowing testimonies of survivors and families of victims and hostages, together with images of the devastated killing sites in the Gaza envelope and of the more hopeful memorial sites in Tel Aviv and at the Nova Festival site.
Samphir began by stating that this was the most difficult journey of her life but one she felt obliged to do in order to experience firsthand what had happened on that fateful day, to bring back the truth, and so counter the pervasive misinformation that is driving the surging antisemitism in our schools, society, and worldwide. What affected her the most was the remarkable strength and resilience of the Israeli people in the face of the horrific trauma they have suffered and are still suffering.
She also remarked how details, such as a child’s book left open in a burned-out home and a young girl’s clothing still hanging on an outdoor clothes line, affected her strongly as did the sight of so many utterly devastated homes. Samphir learned that the destruction of homes was not random. The terrorists had deliberately sought out those with children to burn first. Judi Shuster, who was in attendance at this session, added that the peaceniks of Kibbutz Be’eri, those who like former Winnipegger Vivian Silver had dedicated their lives to seeking peace and helping to drive Palestinians in need of medical care to hospitals in Israel, were also intentionally targeted. According to an Instagram post, there had been a peace conference in Kibbutz Be’eri for Israeli and Palestinian women on October 3. On October 7, Hamas reportedly used an attendee list from that conference to hunt down and murder these women.
Samphir and Hiebert’s documentary, set in the aftermath of October 7, unlike others set in the midst of this “Holocaust” as it occurred in real time, provides a balance that allows one to survive a viewing without being utterly overwhelmed by despair. One could rightly ask, “After such knowledge, what forgiveness?,” to borrow from T. S. Eliot. And also, what hope? Yet, their documentary manages to shine some light amidst the darkness of the wicked atrocities documented. It affords some consolation in the stories affirming the strength and resilience of victims and survivors and the heroism of those who sacrificed their lives to help save the victims of the slaughter.
Bearing Witness concludes with a quotation from Martin Luther King: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” And this is the hope Naam Samphir and Kelly Hiebert’s documentary brings to its viewers: the hope that the light of the testimonies of strength, resilience, and sacrifice and images of the healing memorial sites can drive out the darkness of the unbearable testimonies and images of the sites of slaughter.
Zion Regev began his Zoom presentation on rebuilding of Kfar Aza by explaining the role he assumed immediately after October 7, knowing nothing of the kibbutz before that. After hearing the alarms and watching what was happening, he decided to leave his work in East Jerusalem and volunteer in the completely destroyed community in the south, less than a kilometer from Gaza. He soon became the leader of the community, responsible for organizing its recovery.
He described Kfar Aza before October 7 as “beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,” a small and green community, “90% heaven.” It had about 950 residents (300 households with 233 children), with small startups, some factories, and developed agriculture. There was a huge waiting list to join Kfar Aza.
Terrorists attacked at 9:29 a.m. on October 7. In less than half an hour, 150 terrorists entered. First responders and 14 people from the kibbutz tried to defend the community, but 7 were killed in that first half hour while others went for help. The army came between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., but by then it was too late. By noon, the kibbutz was conquered. Whole neighbourhoods inhabited by young people were totally shattered, the doors to their shelters bullet-riddled. By the end of the day, 64 residents were murdered, 19 kidnapped (2 being killed in captivity), 8 severely wounded, and 40% of all houses destroyed. And with the destruction, all trust in the government and the army. It was three days before the last terrorist was killed.
In response to a friend’s request for help, Regev arrived 8 days after October 7, after residents had been taken away under fire to hotels in the middle of Israel. He has been there since, first as a volunteer doing fund-raising and then as head of the community as all leadership had been killed or wounded. Because it would not be possible to return to Kfar Aza for at least two years, Kibbutz Ruhana, which is still close to the border, was chosen for people to go and recover community. The government built 190 houses from scratch as well as schools, with green space for residents to gather with their children.
The renovations of Kfar Aza have begun, the first, a student neighbourhood to be launched in two weeks. Other projects, such as a swimming pool, are underway. Regev emphasized that although it is still dangerous with the war ongoing, it is necessary to prepare for when it is possible for residents to return.
Regev said that consideration is being given to what should be preserved as evidence of what Hamas did for the sake of memory and learning in much the same way as some Shoah memorials do. The problem being: who wants to live by a house of murder?
Regev stated: “The vision for Kfar Aza is to rebuild it even better, to continue to be a community, strong and responsible for the security of all. We will flourish. . . . We will remember October 7, and we will rise again.”
The panel discussion on “Giving Back: Volunteer Journeys in Israel,” featured moderator Patrick Elazar (who has volunteered for many years with Sar-El), Judi Shuster (who just returned from volunteering with her husband Joel in a number of capacities), Lisa Lewis (who was a participant of Jewish Federation, Jewish National Fund, and Bridges for Peace’s Hineni Mission), and Stephen and Denise Cornish (who also took part in the Hineni Mission representing Bridges for Peace).
All were enthusiastic advocates of volunteering in Israel. All unanimously agreed that any preliminary fears they may have had were immediately dispelled on landing in Israel when a palpable peace descended on them. All felt volunteering in Israel at this time was something they had to do and was one of the most meaningful things they have done. And all extolled the astonishing resilience of the Israeli people, their refusal to despair, their choosing life in the face of so much hatred, death, and suffering, and their undying commitment to fighting for their existence at all cost, as they have done throughout history. And their exuberance, friendliness, and joy. As so many have said, they will not only “dance again”; they are already doing so.
None of the panelists could say what was challenging about volunteering except for Shuster who quipped laughing, “Volunteering is easy. It is driving in Israel that is terrifying.” Shuster has gone 3 times since October 7 and has worked picking kohlrabi, lemons, and strawberries, sorting vegetables at a logistics centre, packing Purim costumes for displaced families, delivering food to families, packing snack boxes for soldiers, and helping at Hostages Square. Her advice to anyone considering volunteering in Israel is “Go! Once in Israel, you will be at peace.” She also recommended the Facebook group Swords of Iron which lists 100’s of volunteer opportunities, “something for everyone, including dog walking.”
Elazar, who has volunteered with Sar-El for a month a year for many years, works in military warehouses filling and loading heavy food bins. Other Sar-El opportunities range from digging trenches in Metula to lighter tasks such as sorting medical equipment. His only complaint was “the expectations are not high enough!” The work ethic and dedication of volunteers, mainly between the ages of 65 and 75, are greatly underestimated. Day-long assignments are often completed by noon. He believes his volunteering makes him stronger: “I am put on the line and am better for it.”
Lisa Lewis, who identified herself as Indigenous and European, had been to Israel in 2003 during the Second Intifada, motivated by a desire to be an ally. She realized that after October 7, “Now the heavy lifting starts,” so she wanted to go back. She went on her own, not as part of an organization, with the Hineni Mission during which she picked vegetables and hosted a barbeque for IDF soldiers, fulfilling her desire to offer solidarity and be a support in whatever way possible. Lewis had this advice for potential volunteers: “Do it. Go and volunteer. And when you get back, be an ally. Talk about Israel, about the reality of October 7, everywhere to everyone to dispel the hurt, hate, and misinformation.”
Stephen and Denise Cornish also went on the Hineni Mission as members of Bridges for Peace. It was an easy choice for them to join the mission, especially as their son Jonah is volunteering in Jerusalem with Bridges for Peace. But also because, as non-Jews, they wanted to express their solidarity with Israel, and by helping announce, “We stand with Israel.” As Stephen put it, “Hineni (“Here I am.”) Lord use me.” Both were deeply moved by their volunteer experience.
Stephen recalled his most memorable moment being at the Kotel for Shabbat. “It was filled with soldiers dancing, singing, and praising God—in the midst of an existential crisis, celebrating life.” Denise was especially affected by one of the art installations turned into memorials in Hostages Square representing the starvation suffered by those in captivity. She was also grateful for Rabbi Benarroch’s introducing them to Jewish practices and prayers. She quoted Mica 6:8 to express what inspires her to help: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. / And what does the Lord require of you? / To act justly and to love mercy / and to walk humbly with your God.” All the volunteers have clearly responded to this call.
