Host of October 7th Memorial Ceremony Announced

Host Eli Sharabi, a survivor of Hamas captivity, and actress Shani Cohen will lead the third annual National Memorial Ceremony for the October 7th victims. The ceremony, organized by the "Komu" movement and families of October 7th victims, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7th, at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv. It has become a central event commemorating the day of the attack and will be broadcast by major media outlets and shown in community screenings worldwide.

Sharabi, who was held captive by Hamas for 491 days after being abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri, lost his wife Lian, daughters Noa and Yahel, and brother Yossi in the attack. He stated that hosting the ceremony fulfills a promise to his family to ensure they are never forgotten. "The 7th of October must remain etched in our hearts as an iron date forever," Sharabi declared, emphasizing the importance of a significant national ceremony to prevent the day from being forgotten or its memory fading.

Cohen, who has supported many bereaved families since the war began, expressed pride in co-hosting the event. "The 7th of October is a significant event in all our lives," she said. "I am proud to host the ceremony alongside a person who chose life despite everything he has been through. It deeply moves me, our strength to overcome terrible hardship and strengthen others along the way."

Omri Saphroni, an organizer of the ceremony who lost four family members in the attack on Be'eri, praised the choice of hosts. He described Sharabi as someone who "chose life after the worst possible" and called Cohen a "symbol of Israeli-ness."

The families stressed their commitment to a unifying, nationwide ceremony representing all segments of society affected by the disaster. The event is designed with sensitivity by the affected families and communities and is funded by public donations through a crowdfunding campaign. Details regarding the exact start time and participating artists, who are volunteering their time, will be announced soon. The families are urging continued public support for the crowdfunding campaign to enable the ceremony to be held in an open park setting for tens of thousands of Israelis, as in previous years.