Beit Shemesh Marks Three Years Since October 7th With Memorial Ceremony

Beit Shemesh held a municipal memorial ceremony on Monday evening at the Culture Hall to commemorate three years since the October 7th attacks. The ceremony honored the memory of 31 residents who were killed. This included 22 individuals who fell on October 7th or during the subsequent "Swords of Iron" war, and nine residents who died when a missile struck the city in March.

Prior to the event, an exhibition of portraits of the fallen, painted by volunteer artist Dina Akerman, was displayed. The paintings were presented to the families at the conclusion of the evening. Rabbi Yitzhak Biton, who lost three children in the missile strike incident, recited Kaddish and spoke in memory of the fallen.

Images of the city's fallen were shown to the bereaved families and residents. A tribute was paid to the victims of the Nova music festival massacre, with the "Ben HaShmashot" ensemble performing the song "Tirkedi." Hadar, sister of reservist Sergeant Major Benjamin Destao Negus, delivered an emotional speech in memory of her brother. Galit Rot, who also hosted the ceremony, spoke about the feelings of reservist families during the war and highlighted Beit Shemesh's unique mutual responsibility.

Harel Barda shared his personal story and performed the song "Nigmar." Mayor Shmuel Greenberg stated, "Thirty-one worlds have been lost to us. Behind every number there is a name, a face, a family left with an unfillable void. Tonight, we not only remember them, but we also take upon ourselves the legacy they left us, to be worthy of them. To continue to build, to plant, to live, and to believe in this land and in this city."

Deputy Mayor and Culture Supervisor Moshe Shitrit added, "We cannot promise that there will not be another October 7th. But we can, we must, promise that when the test comes, there will be enough people here to answer the call. Because 'Never Again' is not something someone promised us. It is something we must promise ourselves, through actions, responsibility, and willingness to stand up." The ceremony, attended by bereaved families, IDF representatives, students, youth movements, and city residents, was produced by Avivit Ginon, head of the events department, in cooperation with the "Yad Labanim" house. It concluded with the singing of "Hatikvah."