Father of Hamas Victim Fights to Preserve Homes as Testimonies
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Shimon Elkabetz, whose daughter Sivan was murdered on October 7th, is fighting to preserve the destroyed homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza as testaments to the Hamas attack. Despite the kibbutz majority voting to demolish the houses, Elkabetz has petitioned the Supreme Court to save them as crucial evidence and for advocacy. He shared his personal story of loss and grief, reflecting on faith, resilience, and the need for vigilance against those who seek to harm Jews. The family plans to return to the kibbutz after renovating their home.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Shimon Elkabetz is leading a legal fight to preserve homes destroyed in the October 7th attack, including his daughter Sivan's.
- Elkabetz has petitioned the Supreme Court (Bagatz) after his kibbutz voted to demolish the houses.
- He believes preserving the homes is vital for international advocacy and as a testament to the events.
- Elkabetz's daughter Sivan was murdered in her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the Hamas massacre.
- He reflects on faith, resilience, and the need for constant vigilance against those who seek to harm Jews.
- The Elkabetz family plans to return to the kibbutz after renovating their home.
Shimon Elkabetz, a journalist and former commander of the radio station Galatz, shared his profound personal story three years after the October 7th Hamas massacre, emphasizing that the full narrative of that day is still unfolding and will take a generation to tell. His account, which begins in Kfar Aza and tragically includes the murder of his daughter Sivan in her kibbutz home, resonates with thousands of others who experienced similar horrors.
Elkabetz described the family's pre-attack gathering on October 6th, celebrating his and his wife Anat's anniversary, unaware of the impending tragedy. The family was split among four homes in the kibbutz when the attack began. Sivan and her partner Naor Hassidim were in their home, close to the border fence. Sivan's final messages to her parents urged them to enter their safe room due to rocket fire, and later, a desperate plea for help indicated terrorists were inside their home. Simultaneously, their other daughter, Noa, also in the kibbutz, sent a panicked voice message describing intruders at her door.
After a harrowing day, IDF soldiers rescued the Elkabetz family, but tragically, they later learned of Sivan's death. Elkabetz spoke of the immense, unending grief and the struggle to comprehend how such an event could occur and how to prevent its recurrence. He remembered Sivan as a bright, modest young woman, born on Shavuot and murdered on Simchat Torah, who excelled in science and computer studies and served as a combat fitness instructor in the Air Force.
Elkabetz revealed that his wife Anat, without his initial knowledge, visited their destroyed home in November. This visit solidified their decision to preserve the home as a memorial, contrasting it with the kibbutz's majority decision to demolish the houses. Elkabetz is leading a legal battle, including a petition to the Supreme Court (Bagatz), to preserve some of the homes as testaments to the events, arguing it's a national and human story, not just a kibbutz issue. He believes preserving these sites is crucial for international advocacy, citing instances where visitors with preconceived notions were deeply affected after seeing the destruction.
Despite the trauma, Elkabetz expressed a belief in rebuilding and resilience. While he personally feels less inclined to return to the kibbutz, he supports his wife's efforts to renovate their home, seeing it as a victory against the perpetrators. He also reflected on the media's role, advocating for diverse voices and critical questioning, while acknowledging the need for self-reflection within the industry regarding potential conflicts of interest. He emphasized the importance of understanding the enemy's clear intent to harm Jews and the need for constant vigilance rather than complacency.