By MANDY ALLEN
The parents of Shani Louk are navigating a path of grief by spreading their daughter’s light to the world rather than losing themselves in the darkness.
On the 7th of February 2025, two days after Nissim and Ricarda Louk arrived back in Israel from their South African speaking engagements, they marked what would have been their daughter Shani’s 24th birthday.
On that catastrophic day in October almost two years ago, tattoo artist Shani went to celebrate life at the Nova Music Festival with other peace lovers. “When I dance, I pray,” she used to say to her father. It was to be her last dance.
‘Giving Shani A Voice’ reflects a promise made to their daughter, which they fulfilled during an evening in Cape Town on the 4th of February, when they spoke about her life and displayed a curated selection of her artwork.
We all know the story, but are obligated to its retelling so we never forget.
Over three thousand attended the Nova rave on the weekend of October 7th. With dawn, music was replaced by a massacre. Hamas proceeded to hunt down and murder 364 people and kidnap dozens into Gaza.
One of the earliest images the world saw was Shani on the back of a vehicle, surrounded by terrorists. Her body, face-down, one leg bent at a grotesque angle. Stolen into Gaza, paraded like a trophy and abused even in death.
Nissim and Ricarda held out hope she was alive. Several weeks later, forensics confirmed the dreadful reality based on a piece of skull fragment. There was solace in knowing that “Shani had not been imprisoned in the tunnels, or suffered the torture of Hamas”.
“Shani never thought that there is evil in the world because she was a free spirit,” says Nissim. “She tried to escape. She was aware only for a few seconds, and then died. This is a point of relief for us.”
Eight months later, an IDF operation recovered Shani’s body from a Gazan tunnel almost 50 metres underground. “We were worried we would see something different,” explained Nissim, “but the conditions meant even her tattoos were clear. She looked beautiful.” Their daughter was returned on Ricarda’s birthday. “That closed the loop,” he says. “We have her back, can go there whenever we want, and she can rest.”
“We can’t get our daughter back,” says Ricarda of their resilience. “We hold onto the good moments. Her smile, love for music, her art… We move forward for her.”
“Our daughter brought light to the world,” says Nissim, “and she continues to do so. Everyone knows the split picture of Shani: one side, alive and beautiful. The other, surrounded by evil. Light and darkness. She is a symbol of goodness, and she is showing people the difference. That is why she was put on this earth. And I think that is why we were too, as her parents.”
‘Giving Shani A Voice’ was a collaboration between The Base, JNF SA, Partnership2Gether (P2G), SAZF Cape Council and Cape Town Kollel.
Ricarda Louk with her daughter, Adi
Follow South African Zionist Federation – Cape Council on Instagram and Facebook.
• Digital Magazine Format is available here: March 2025 issue
• Advertise in the Cape Jewish Chronicle and on this website. Contact Lynette Roodt on 021 464 6736 or email advertising@ctjc.co.za. For more information and advertising rate card click here.
• Sign up for our newsletter and never miss another issue.
• Subscribe – simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za. The Cape Jewish Chronicle, in Print and Digital, is available to those who have subscribed. We offer voluntary subscription options of R450 per year or R37.50 per month via debit order. For payment info click here.
• Jewish organisations in Cape Town – Visit our Portal to the Jewish Community.
• Follow the Cape Jewish Chronicle: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
