Commemorating October 7th 2023 – One year on
In the wake of the October 7th 2023 attacks in Israel, many people throughout the Diaspora were driven to take action to assist the country and its people. Commemorating the event one year on, we share the comments from some of the Capetonians who went on volunteer missions to help out.
Melissa Hack, Momentum Community Leader and Herzlia educator
I was fortunate to visit Israel after October 7th. This trip was more than just a visit: it was a chance to connect deeply with both the land and its people.
One memorable experience was spending an afternoon with Thank Israeli Soldiers, a remarkable organisation founded by a couple whose actions are those of superheroes. They started by bringing barbecues to the military bases to demonstrate to soldiers, in a very personal way, how much people care. They then expanded their efforts with a package programme to show gratitude to soldiers across the country during peacetime.
As part of our visit, we helped by bringing items to their warehouse, packaging them, and then distributing them at a braai. Seeing the soldiers’ faces light up, knowing that people from the Jewish diaspora care so much and came to show support, was truly heartwarming. It was an experience that touched my soul deeply.
Gayle Saxe
In the midst of increasingly turbulent times, I’ve found that the most impactful way I can contribute is by travelling to Israel to volunteer. My experience began with my son in December 2023, where we spent two weeks volunteering with Sar-El, followed by a week on the kibbutzim near the Gaza border. That initial experience left a profound mark on me.
In April 2024, I returned with my husband, and my sister and brother-in-law who travelled from Canada, and we dedicated another week to Sar-El and continued volunteer work on the kibbutzim. I plan to return once again in November, filled with the same drive and sense of purpose.
For me, volunteering in Israel is the most meaningful way I can provide tangible support. In the face of adversity, I want to look back and know that I did everything I could to help. I’m a fierce, proud, and unwavering supporter of Israel. The events of October 7th have shaken me deeply but, every time I’m in Israel, I feel a renewed strength and unity – knowing that nothing will defeat us. Volunteering there gives me the breath I need to stand strong, to feel connected, and to contribute in the most impactful way I know.
For as long as I am able, I will continue to volunteer and contribute to the well-being of Am Yisroel.
Michelle Jaffe
Before we embarked on the life-changing experience that is Momentum, the group met one evening to get to know one another. Each of us explained why we were going on this trip.
I had been feeling useless being so far away from Israel and not being able to do anything. I wanted to help out and show our Israeli brothers and sisters that we stand with them. One of my fellow Momentum sisters summed it up for me. She said the reason she was going was that, one day when her kids ask her what she did in the aftermath of October 7th, she can tell them that she went to bear witness. She went even though family members told her not to because it would be dangerous.
Was I nervous? Yes, of course but, as soon as I landed in the Holy Land, I felt safer there in a war zone than I do in Cape Town.
The Momentum trip was more than bearing witness of the horrific acts of October 7th – it was a healing process for all of us who shared in this collective experience. We saw how resilient our people are; we heard stories of heroism; we met with hostage families; we had dinner with the wives of soldiers; we shared tears and laughter with women from all over the world. I had never considered myself religious or very ‘Jewish’ but, coming back from Momentum, my Zionism and love for my people grows everyday. Israel is our home – we don’t have anywhere else to go.
Carine Glass
Like for so many others, October 7th had a deep impact on me, and I immediately felt the urge to take action, though I wasn’t entirely sure what form that would take. When the chance to join a unity mission to Israel with Momentum came along, it felt like the sign I had been waiting for. The timing was ideal, and after filling out the application and weighing logic against emotion, I realised this journey would not only serve the people of Israel but also fulfill something within me.
We set off as an incredible group of 15 women, ready to see, experience, and connect. It’s hard to capture the full meaning of those 10 days in just a few words, but I can say it was truly transformative. The experience deepened my already intense passion and love for Israel more than I could have imagined. It will go down as one of the most monumental experiences of my life.
Lisa Sandler
When the war started, I felt immobilised internally.
I had to go to Israel, volunteer for one month and give of myself to do what I could to help get the hostages home safely. Arriving on Day 68 of the war, I had no fear, I was on a volunteer mission driven by an inner source of energy and courage. I knew I would be safe and protected.
Volunteering for Sar-El for three weeks (at Hatzerim and Tel Hashomer bases) and Leket for one week was a life-changing experience. Engaging with the IDF and meeting young soldiers straight from the frontline in Gaza, as well as working on the Leket farms, allowed volunteers to have a direct impact on the people and land of Israel.
I will always treasure this comment from a soldier I met, “We lift their spirits and give them the energy to keep going!” (‘We’ being the volunteers; ‘them’ being the IDF.)
Stronger together! Am Yisrael Chai!
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