Brother of Kidnapped Alon Shares Grief and Calls for National Memorial on October 7 Tragedy

On October 7 at 10:00 AM, Alon Achi, a hero from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, sent a message saying his home was under attack and he was sheltering quietly. His brother, Jonathan Shmeriz, was unable to help due to his pregnant wife and young child, and since then has lived with deep guilt for not being able to try to rescue him. Survivors from Kfar Aza were evacuated to Kibbutz Shafim, where the community mourned heavily, with eight funerals held in one day. Jonathan describes the emotional torment of believing his brother was alive but kidnapped, holding onto hope despite the pain.

Three weeks after Alon's death, Jonathan's son was born, bringing a faint light amid the darkness. Motivated by his brother's memory, Jonathan helped establish the National Memorial Ceremony for the October 7 families, aiming to unite the Israeli people in collective mourning and remembrance of the worst tragedy since the Holocaust. The ceremony has grown in significance, touching many families affected by the attacks and captivity.

This year, the memorial is planned as the largest in Israel's history, held in an open park with top Israeli artists and thousands of attendees, including affected families and survivors. Jonathan urges all Israelis to participate, emphasizing the ceremony's power to unite the nation in grief and hope. Despite losing his home and still feeling profound sorrow, Jonathan finds solace in sharing his pain with others who endured similar losses. He stresses that the National Memorial Ceremony must continue annually, preserving the memory of the tragedy for future generations.