Israel's Leaders Lose Right to Shape Memory of October 7

Israel is holding two state ceremonies on Thursday, one military and one civilian, to commemorate the victims of the October 7th attacks. These ceremonies precede a national memorial event organized by the bereaved families on October 7th, and a separate remembrance ceremony for the Nova music festival victims in Re'im on Wednesday. The article criticizes the ongoing disputes and controversies surrounding these memorial events, particularly a recent prayer and singing ceremony at the Nova site, which some families opposed. The author argues that imposing a rigid, traditional format like the "Hakafot" (circuit of dancing with Torah scrolls) onto the free-spirited nature of the Nova festival is a misrepresentation of its victims' spirit. The columnist, Sherry Makover-Blikoff, contends that the division and separate commemorations reflect a deep societal rift and a fundamental failure of the state and government to properly memorialize such a disaster. She asserts that leaders who were in charge on October 7th and have not taken responsibility for the failures leading up to the attacks have lost the legitimacy to shape the national narrative of remembrance. Makover-Blikoff suggests that many are boycotting the official ceremonies, especially in light of reports about ignored intelligence warnings by Prime Minister Netanyahu and the upcoming elections, viewing the state-led events as a political maneuver to obscure blame rather than a genuine act of remembrance. The article concludes that attempts to impose artificial consensus from above only exacerbate division from below, and that state organizers should have humbly listened to the public's wishes.