Diverse Memorial Initiatives Honor October 7 Victims

A variety of initiatives are underway across Israel to commemorate the victims of the October 7th attacks and the subsequent war. The "Runners 7.10" initiative, led by Yinir Kaliser, involves hundreds of groups running 7.10 kilometers nationwide, with participants receiving bibs bearing the names of fallen soldiers and victims. The "Wrapped in Love" organization, in collaboration with the Bit app from Bank Hapoalim, has launched a campaign to support 573 children who lost one or both parents in the attacks. This campaign includes a dedicated donation button in the Bit app and collection points at Shufersal stores. The organization provides comprehensive support, including financial aid, psychological resilience, educational assistance, and personal guidance until the age of 30.

In a musical tribute, tech company Simply is partnering with the "Anar" foundation to honor fallen soldier Anar Shapira. Simply Piano and Simply Guitar apps now feature special arrangements of three of his songs, including a duet with Esther Rada and a collaboration with Judith Ravitz. This initiative aims to continue Shapira's musical and social legacy.

The tenth cohort of the "Ivcher National Resilience Program" has begun, training therapists in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. Funded by philanthropist Baruch Ivcher and managed by his daughter Daphna Ivcher, the program is professionally led by social psychologist Dr. Ariel Lehman and provides advanced tools for dealing with trauma. The program's conclusion will be marked at the Resilience Farm at Sheba Medical Center.

An international effort by B'nai B'rith in Israel and Texas has raised $54,000 to purchase advanced helmets for soldiers in the IDF's Maglan unit. The helmets were presented to soldiers who completed an 18-month training course. Meanwhile, the Friends of the IDF (FIDF) in the US has launched a digital video library in English, featuring around 50 testimonies totaling 12 hours, to share stories and accounts of the October 7th events with donors and supporters. Testimonies include those from soldiers, reservists, bereaved families, and hostage survivors like Noa Argamani, Amit Sussana, Maya Regev, Almog Meir Jan, Idan Alexander, and Maxim Harkin.

Tech companies are also participating in memorial efforts. Gaming company Playtika has created a memorial display for employees to share memories and write dedications. They are also hosting hostage survivor Avinatan Or, who will share his experience of 738 days in Hamas captivity. Other companies like Lusha and Axonius are also hosting Or Levi and Avinatan Or, respectively, to share their stories. Audiocodes has transformed its auditorium into a dedicated memorial space showing a film about the events and the hostage releases. Additionally, the "Next October" initiative connects tech companies with bereaved families, with Esh-Tech hosting the mother and sister of fallen soldier Itay Eliyahu.