7/10 Survivor Eli Sharabi, Actress Shani Cohen to Host Memorial Ceremony

The families of the October 7th victims announced that former hostage Eli Sharabi and actress Shani Cohen will host this year's national memorial ceremony for the October 7th massacre. The event will take place on October 7th at Park HaYarkon in Tel Aviv.

The families are urging public support for their crowdfunding campaign to ensure the ceremony can be held in an open park format for tens of thousands of Israelis. This will be the third annual national memorial ceremony organized by the families, serving as the central event to commemorate the day of the attack.

Similar to previous years, the ceremony will be broadcast by major Israeli media outlets, foreign broadcasters, and through community viewings worldwide. The families emphasized their commitment to a unifying, state-level ceremony that represents all segments of the population and communities affected by the attack.

Details regarding the ceremony's start time and a list of volunteer artists and creators will be announced soon. Eli Sharabi stated his commitment to honoring his family members who were killed, vowing that "they will never be forgotten." He stressed the importance of the date remaining etched in memory, stating, "Time must not obscure it, and time must not cause forgetfulness." He added that the "terrible day must not pass without a national, central, and significant ceremony," acknowledging the profound pain but expressing determination to honor the victims and the nation.

Shani Cohen expressed pride in hosting the ceremony alongside Sharabi, calling him a "symbol of Israeli resilience." She described the October 7th event as significant for all Israelis and highlighted the strength found in overcoming immense hardship and supporting others.

Omri Shapira, who lost four family members in the Be'eri massacre and is one of the ceremony's organizers, described the event as a reflection of collective pain, responsibility, and hope for Israel. He praised Sharabi and Cohen as the most fitting hosts to convey the story of the families and Israeli society.