Post-October 7th Content
The October 7th attack on Israel has redefined local geopolitics and internal social and political trends in numerous ways. Visiting Israel at this time allows visitors to witness history unfold. Observing the reality on the ground first-hand is an invitation to intimately understand the crisis and contemplate Israeli resilience.
Jewish-Arab Civilian War Room
Activity description:
The devastating October 7th attack on the south of Israel affected both Jews and Arabs living in the region. Today, both communities are working together to respond to the needs resulting from the attack and ensuing war. Visit the Jewish-Arab Civil War Room, where funding, volunteering, and help are equally distributed between the two communities. You can witness this unique operation by visiting Rahat, the largest Bedouin city in Israel. When visiting Rahat, you can volunteer at the center or meet with the people running this unique initiative to hear why, amid the war, they see the importance of working together.
Israel’s Bedouin community in the south has been affected by the war, just like their Jewish neighbors. Missiles and terrorists killed several, and some were taken hostage to Gaza. Following the October 7th attack, the Jewish-Arab Civil War Room, a first-of-its-kind initiative, was opened in Rahat to help Jewish and Arab families recover. The War Room was established by the organizations “Have You Seen the Horizon Lately?,” “Itach – Lawyers for Social Justice,” “Alnashmiat – Women’s Leadership in the Unrecognized Villages,” “Kochavei Hamidbar – for the Advancement of Young Bedouin Leadership,” and the Rahat community center. The War Room works purely on Jewish-Arab cooperation: donations are collected from Arabs and Jews, volunteers come from both societies, and aid is given to both Jewish and Arab families.
None
Rahat
Volunteer: >20, Meeting: >40, Visit: Unlimited
Loui Haj
Activity description:
Six weeks after the October 7th attack, Loui Haj, a Palestinian-Israeli living in Akko, published an open letter to Hamas-supporting progressive activists. He wrote: “We, Arabs and Jews in our country, the one that you seek to ‘liberate,’ bow our heads before the sorrow of our past, of ourselves, of our peoples, and yearn for the memory to never fade for us. In this way, our hope, our salvation, and our revival shall be here in Israel, our country, because neither one of us has another land, and neither one has anywhere else to go.” Meet with Loui to hear a perspective often overlooked in discussions about the conflict. You will have an eye-opening conversation about Loui’s life and his vision for the future of Israel and Israelis.
Loui is an Arab-Palestinian-Israeli living in Akko. His global facilities management executive career spans over 25 years, complemented by his recent role as a mergers and acquisitions specialist for Israeli companies operating abroad. Loui's diverse professional background and unique cultural heritage shape his approach to innovation, collaboration, and educational outreach in complex, multi-cultural environments. Loui worked for NetApp, NIKE, and Delta Textile Industries and is now employed by Apple as the Real Estate, Facilities, and Operations Manager for Israel & EMEA R&D sites. He is a graduate of the Technion in Mechanical Engineering. Loui is a social activist striving to strengthen shared life between Jews and Arabs in Israel. He has actively participated in the Music Conservatory and the “Festival of Alternative Theatre,” promoting arts and culture as a means of fostering understanding and dialogue, is involved in Jewish-Arab coexistence associations and urban planning initiatives in his city, volunteers with ELEM- Youth in Distress, and participating in MENA 2050 initiatives.
Low (donated to the Hostages & Missing Families Forum)
Akko, Haifa Tel Aviv
Unlimited
Hostages and Missing Families Forum
Activity description:
The October 7th attack saw the abduction of over 240 Israelis and foreign residents to Gaza, by Hamas and other organizations. Their stories are told by their family members desperately waiting for their return and by the hostages released from captivity. Visit the Hostages Square by the Tel Aviv Museum and meet with family members who will present the organization and share their personal stories.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is a grassroots organization established by the families of the abductees who were kidnapped to Gaza on October 7, 2023, and by the families of the missing persons. The forum offers families holistic medical and emotional support and professional assistance. It advances the ongoing efforts locally, regionally, and globally to bring the hostages and the missing back home. Counting thousands of volunteers and supporters, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum includes family members and friends of the hostages alongside top security, law, media, and diplomacy experts who are donating their time to the cause.
>55
Liat Cohen Raviv
Activity description:
Since the beginning of the war, over 150,000 Israelis have had to leave their homes, mainly by the borders in the north and south of the country. Whole communities live as refugees in their own country, residing in hotels or with friends and family. Meet Liat Cohen Raviv, a leader and a visionary, for an intimate conversation about the current situation and the realities of uprooting a family from its home, living away from your community, and not knowing what comes next.
Liat Cohen Raviv owns Yozmot, a private consultancy company that trains businesses and builds customized, innovative pedagogical programs. For the past 20+ years, she has coached and trained senior leaders across Israel, the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, the UK, and Argentina. Liat is the former Executive of the Diller Teen Fellows program, a Jewish international leadership program bringing together thousands of teens from Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Liat holds an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from JFK School of Government (Harvard University), an MA in Public Policy (Tel Aviv University), a BA in Educational System Development (Haifa University), and is a graduate of Generation Now Fellowship (Jewish Education Project) and a member of Voices of Israel - Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Medium
North, Center
55 Participants
Ofakim
Activity description:
Ofakim, a quiet desert community of about 30,000 people, was the site of fierce, prolonged fighting during Hamas’s surprise attacks on October 7th. It was the farthest point the terrorists reached. They killed 53 residents and injured many more. A visit to Ofakim exposes visitors to an Israel that’s far from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem with traditional, marginalized communities. Here, a representative of the Ofakim municipality will join you, and together, you will tour the neighborhoods affected the most by the attack. You will hear about the devastation and heroism of the people of Ofakim - such as that of Rachel Edri, who stalled Hamas terrorists, offering them food and drinks while being held hostage - and hear about the state of the city today.
Ofakim was established in 1955 as an urban center for the rural communities in the area. Its first inhabitants were immigrants from Morocco and Tunisia, later joined by newcomers from Egypt, Iran, India, and Romania and, in the 1990s, from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia. Established as a development town, Ofakim was a major textile manufacturing center for many years. Outsourcing of textile manufacturing outside Israel caused economic stagnation, and Ofakim suffered high poverty and unemployment rates for many years. Since then, new factories have moved in, and the city is undergoing major development.
Avishai Argentro
Activity description:
Avishai Argentro grew up in Kibbutz Kfar Aza and survived the attack on October 7th with his wife and two kids. Avishay did not give up on his passion. Following the displacement of his community, he initiated a unique culinary project: coming to people's homes, cooking for them, and telling them the story of his life on Kibbutz KfarAza. In his own words, “Behind this project is the desire to show people how good the place we’re living in is. You see something terrible, but we live in a piece of heaven." True to his love for the region where he grew up, most of the products Avishai is using are brought from businesses located in the Gaza envelope. Avishai will host your group in a quaint location and share his story while you enjoy a unique chef meal.
Avishai Argentro grew up on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and this is where he built his home. With a longtime passion for cooking, Avishai participated in Israel’s Master Chef and later opened a vegetarian restaurant in Sderot called “Granpa Simcha” with a few of his childhood friends. Avishai is a member of the “Gaza Foxes,” the Kibbutz soccer team. He is married to Shani, and they have two kids.
High
Moshav Batzra
20-25 Participants
National Library 10.7 Documenting Project
Activity description:
The October 7th events were almost wholly documented digitally. Soon after the attack, it became clear that the evidence of what happened might disappear forever if not properly and swiftly organized and preserved for historical research. Israel’s National Library took on the challenge, launching a painstaking effort to serve as a central repository for all existing documentation of these events: texts, photos, audio, and video. Take a tour of the astonishing new building of the National Library, which only recently opened to the public, and meet the people behind Israel’s national effort to preserve the evidence of October 7th.
Israel’s National Library is home to the intellectual and cultural treasures of Israel and the Jewish people. The National Library has four core collections: Israel, Judaica, Islam and the Middle East, and the Humanities. Highlights include significant collections of handwritten works by luminaries such as Maimonides and Sir Isaac Newton, exquisite Islamic manuscripts dating back to the ninth century, and personal archives of leading cultural and intellectual figures, including Martin Buber, Stefan Zweig, and Naomi Shemer. The National Library holds the largest collection of Jewish and Israeli music and world-class collections of manuscripts, ancient maps, rare books, photographs, archival materials, and more.
Low
Jerusalem
50 Participants
Emergency Archaeological Research
Activity description:
The aftermath of the October 7th attack posed challenges never seen before. The number of casualties and the horrific ways in which people were murdered left Israel with a high number of missing people and a nationwide effort to identify and bring them to rest. That’s when Israel’s spirit of innovation and volunteering stepped in, and unorthodox solutions were suggested. Israeli archaeologists are among the busiest in the world, unearthing ancient remains of immeasurable importance to humankind. Soon after October 7th, they were called to do something archaeologists had never done before: look through burnt houses and vehicles, using their expertise in identifying small human remains to find evidence of the missing people. Now, they are eager to share their story. Visit the new home of Israel’s Antiquities Authority and meet with the archaeologists who took part in this unique and emotional operation.
The Israel Antiquities Authority is an independent Israeli governmental authority responsible for enforcing the 1978 Law of Antiquities. The IAA regulates excavation and conservation and promotes research. It is responsible for preserving and investigating Israel's archaeological heritage while balancing its development needs with preserving its antiquities. The authority is responsible for excavating, preserving, and investigating antiquities sites and invests great efforts in the development and preservation of ancient buildings in Israel's historic cities.
Low
Jerusalem, Center
100 Participants
Noor Ferro-Zaheraldeen
Activity description:
Druze communities are a traditional society where women are still struggling for integration in Israeli society, but where young men are serving in the IDF. As a minority in Israel, the Druze are striving for recognition while losing men in Israel's wars. A Druze woman, Noor has an unwavering commitment to drive positive change by leveraging her expertise, particularly in empowering underrepresented communities. Join Noor for an honest conversation about the Druze, where she will open a window to Druze life and traditions, discuss her struggle to bridge gaps for the Arab community in Israel and share the story of Arab and Druze integration in the tech industry. You can also join Noor on a thought-provoking and enriching tour of her village, visit the memorial house of Druze soldiers fallen in Israel’s wars (Yad Lebanim), meet with a Druze entrepreneur, visit a local artist, or enjoy a traditional Druze meal.
Noor Ferro-Zaheraldeen is living in the Druze village Dalyat Al Carmel, near Haifa. She is the founder and owner of two initiatives: JobLee, a Tech Recruitment and HR Service company with a focus on the northern district of Israel, and Bayanat-Up, a market research company with a focus on the Arab business ecosystem in Israel. Noor worked at Intel and was a researcher at the Milken Institute. She holds a BA in statistics from Haifa University and an EMBA from Tel Aviv University.
Medium
North
55 Participants
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ZAKA – Identification, Extraction and Rescue
Activity description:
Following the Hamas massacre on October 7th, hundreds of ZAKA first responders entered southern Israel to collect dead bodies and ensure their proper burial. They were among the first on the scene, working tirelessly to complete this inhumane task. Meet with ZAKA volunteers for a firsthand account of the extent of the atrocities and the moments of human warmth and hope amidst the destruction.
ZAKA ('Disaster Victim Identification') is a network of voluntary community emergency response teams. ZAKA's job is to collect every part of the remains of the dead, including their blood so that they can be buried in accordance with Jewish religious law. The organization is called on to deal with the most traumatic events, including natural disasters, car accidents, and terrorism. The organization traces its roots to a group of religious volunteers who assisted in the recovery of human remains after terrorist attacks in the 1990s. They concluded that if, in the enemy's view, everyone is equal, so too for them. ZAKA’s members are almost all Ultra-Orthodox Jews, but in 2005, it established a minority unit with Bedouin, Muslim, and Druze volunteers to serve Israel's non-Jewish communities. ZAKA volunteers took part in numerous international rescue & recovery operations.
Low
Beit Shemesh
50 Participants
Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy
Activity description:
During the past months, Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy has played a key role in directing attention to one of the especially nightmarish chapters of the October 7th attack. She founded the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children to cast a spotlight on the acts of rape and other sex crimes committed by the terrorists. A meeting with Dr. Elkayam-Levy is an opportunity to pay respect to the abused women and children by acknowledging their fate and a chance to explore the question of why international women's rights institutions ignore the October 7th attack.
Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy established and chairs the Dvora Institute for Gender and Sustainability Studies and the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children. She is the principal author of the National Report on Gender Mainstreaming in Times of Emergencies, which was adopted by the Israeli government, and recently co-authored the analysis of the implications of the government's legal reform on the lives of women in Israel. Dr. Elkayam-Levy is the Sophie Davis Fellow on Gender, Conflict Resolution, and Peace at the Leonard Davis Institute for International Relations, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She teaches human rights law, international law, climate justice, and feminist theories at Hebrew University and Reichman University. She is a Senior Fellow at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, SJD, and a former Human Rights Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
High
Tel Aviv / Jerusalem
50 Participants
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Eylon Levy
Activity description:
After the October 7th massacre, Eylon Levy became an official Israeli government spokesman and one of Israel's most internationally recognized faces of the war. Meet with Eylon for an engaging conversation about the current realities in Israel and the role of the media in the conflict.
Eylon Levy is the former International Media Advisor to the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog. He is a former TV news anchor at the i24NEWS international network and the Israel Broadcasting Authority. He is an award-nominated translator of many bestselling books and is currently working on his own book. Eylon is the co-creator of the musical comedy A Theory of Justice: The Musical, which premiered in Oxford in 2013 and was revived for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Levy holds a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford and a master's degree in International Relations from Cambridge. Eylon served in the IDF after making aliyah from the UK.
Medium
Tel Aviv / Jerusalem
50 Participants
NATAL – the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center
Activity description:
Since October 7th, calls for mental health assistance in Israel dramatically increased by over 1,000%. Israel is experiencing national trauma—one that is believed to signal long-lasting implications for the future. Recent events challenge the basic assumptions and beliefs of many Israelis. The terrible sights from the massacre triggered memories of the trauma of the Holocaust. For many Israelis who fought for peace with the Palestinians, it is a moment of rupture and questioning assumptions. Other basic assumptions that were sincerely held and are now questioned relate to the disappointment and loss of trust in the formal institutions, including the military, the police, and governmental bodies, for being unprepared and unavailable when they were needed most. In an honest encounter with the professionals of NATAL, you will hear about the mental trauma an event such as this inflicts on society and learn about Israel’s groundbreaking methods to increase resiliency among the population.
NATAL – the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center, is an apolitical organization providing multidisciplinary treatment and support to direct and indirect victims of trauma due to terror and war in Israel. NATAL aims to improve the quality of life of trauma victims, prevent trauma in the community through intervention and guidance, serve as a training center in the field of trauma for mental health professionals, raise awareness of trauma due to terror and war in Israeli society, and help advance knowledge and research. Their services are available nationwide and to all Israeli citizens regardless of religion, ethnic background, color, age, gender, or socio-economic status.
Low
Tel Aviv
30 Participants
Samer Abdelrazzak Sinijlawi
Activity description:
Seize the opportunity to engage in a conversation with East Jerusalem political activist Samer Sinjilawi, to gain insight into recent trends among Palestinians. What do Palestinians think about their leadership? Is reconciliation and peace between Israelis and Palestinians still a possibility? Can Israelis and Palestinians go beyond the Israel-Hamas war? What are the important differences between a one-state and a two-state solution? How do Gen Z Palestinians think about the conflict?
Samer Abdelrazzak Sinijlawi was the head of International and Israeli Relations on the Fateh Supreme Committee. He was in charge of relations between Fateh and major political parties in Europe and the Arab world as well as in Israel. Today Samer is the Chairman and a major shareholder of Group Alfasit, a regional group with branches in Jerusalem, Amman, Abu Dhabi, and Madrid. Sinijlawi is the Founding Chairman of Jerusalem Development Fund, a public corporation aiming to facilitate the development of Jerusalem by encouraging and sponsoring mega projects in the city, including housing projects, hotels, commercial centers, and educational institutions. Additionally, the fund started a scholarship program that aims to provide financial aid for students from Jerusalem, encouraging them to apply to the best academic programs at the best international universities.
Samer is the Palestinian with the most appearances in Israeli media, including TV channels 11, 12, 13, 14 and I24, radio and newspapers. Samer has a degree in Business Administration from Birzeit University.
High
Jerusalem
50 Participants
The Food Rescuers
Activity description:
Since October 7th, the Food Rescuers, a Jerusalem-based grassroots sustainability organization, received over 2,800 new requests for food support — 50 times more than usual. With additional shifts and new food rescue sources across the city, they’ve met the increasing demand of displaced families and people who lost their income due to the war. They have also provided numerous cooking opportunities for evacuees in Jerusalem and in Dead Sea hotels, allowing them to feel at home, cooking the food they like in their own kitchen for a couple of hours. Visiting the Food Rescuers is a unique opportunity to learn about food security in Jerusalem while joining a cooking session, a food fermentation and preservation workshop, or enjoying a full meal, all using market surplus products. You can also donate the outcome of your food preservation workshop to local families in need.
Since its establishment in 2019, the Food Rescuers has been working to promote a sustainable and community-oriented food system in Jerusalem. They are located in the heart of the wholesale market, where the majority of fruits and vegetables destined for markets, vendors, shops, and institutions in the city arrive. The organization tackles the issue of approximately 15 tons of surplus and edible produce being discarded daily. Through the collaborative efforts of their dedicated community of volunteers and various cross-sector partnerships, they are actively engaged in reducing food waste by establishing an urban food rescue system.
Medium
Jerusalem
20-40 Participants
Ichilov Hospital Rehabilitation Center
Activity description:
In response to the ongoing war, Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv has transformed its rehab division into a standalone hospital with 120 beds and 100 outpatient stations. It has since treated hundreds of wounded soldiers and civilians, including hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza. They aim to return them as much as possible to proper day-to-day activities and functioning - with the support of progressive therapeutic approaches, an encouraging environment, and personalized care. A visit to the Ichilov Rehabilitation Center offers the opportunity for a personal, unmediated conversation with wounded soldiers, or a discussion about the treatment of PTSD with Dr. Renana Eitan, Director of the Psychiatric division at the Sourasky Medical Center.
The Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, commonly referred to as Ichilov Hospital, is the largest teaching hospital and general hospital serving Tel Aviv and its metropolitan area, and is the second-largest hospital complex in Israel. In 2011, a bombproof emergency facility was opened to protect against conventional, chemical, and biological attacks. In 2022, the world's largest emergency room was opened at Ichilov Hospital. Ichilov’s rehab hospital, called Bishvilam (“for them” in Hebrew), operates according to the latest philosophy in the field, which involves beginning the rehabilitative process as soon as the patient exits surgery. Each patient has a dedicated nurse who coordinates a smooth transition from the acute hospitalization phase to the later stages of inpatient and outpatient rehab.
Free
Tel Aviv
50 Participants