Last Monday, I spent the day with families in Sderot whose lives were torn apart by the unspeakable violence brought upon them on October 7, 2023.
A year later, after all the tears, the sharp pain, and the sadness that has seeped into us for a year now, we can take a deep breath again.
As a people, as a nation, as a society, as families, as individuals? How will we perceive ourselves, and how will we reshape who we are? These questions will be answered by our actions.
The families Genesis Friends for Life Foundation are supporting have experienced a deep, painful, and shattering change.
A shift in consciousness reflected not only in the emotional pain caused by the loss of a loved one but also in their sense of security and safety in the country and in those responsible for the security of Israel’s citizens.
I have no pretension or intention to make a political statement here, but rather to reflect a mental, psychological, emotional, and conscious state that demands of us, as a society, deep introspection, but more importantly, vigorous and meaningful corrective actions.
On the one hand, a reckoning of our ability to endure such intense pain and suffering, and on the other hand, a plan rooted in acts of kindness stemming from the desire to instill hope in those affected by the events of October 7.
A year after this terrible trauma, those who are able must shift to a discourse of hope, a discourse of renewal, a pedagogy of hope, a conversation that instills security and provides a clear and safe future for those who need it. On October 7, I visited the Magira family in Sderot, who lost the father of the family, Avi Magera, of blessed memory.
I shared with Avi’s son, Shaked (may he live long and happy years), about the loss of my brother, Roni Mizrahi, of blessed memory, who was killed in the First Lebanon War.
Shaked asked me, “So how do you cope with such a loss for so many years?” It was a question that surprised me but did not deter me from responding frankly: There is never truly a complete erasure or total overcoming of the pain of losing a beloved and cherished person. Never.
You learn to live alongside the pain, with the longing and deep sorrow. Over time, you learn to grow stronger. You learn that acts of kindness, supporting others, and doing for those in sorrow give you immense strength to cope with your own grief.
Genesis Friends for Life Israel has made it its mission to instill hope in the hearts of orphans, widows, and widowers. In every area of action, whether psychological, educational, or leadership-based, we seek to point to a moment in the future that is better, more determined, and more resilient.
This does not mean in any way to deny, obscure, or heaven forbid diminish or belittle the pain and sorrow. On the contrary, despite the pain and sorrow, we try to lift our heads and look forward.
An optimistic stance can somewhat ease the grief of these families and offer them a sensitive yet determined path to moving forward toward better future goals.
The concept of kindness, based on the idea that giving from your own light enhances the light in the world and does not diminish your own, is a Jewish Hasidic belief that has long served as the glue uniting Jewish communities across the world.
“One who kindles a light from another, it shines, and the original is not diminished” (Bamidbar Rabbah, Parasha 13). I sincerely hope that we will succeed in kindling a light of hope in the hearts of the families who have been grappling with the immense sorrow and pain of October 7 for a year now and will forever struggle to process their deep losses. Please join us in supporting these families – the widows, the children, the loved ones who remain.
Over the past 13 months, aid for those affected by the devastating October 7th attacks has poured into Israel in a variety of shapes and forms. Physical support, such as resources and donations, has been generously provided to alleviate the distress brought about by the gruesome assault. At the same time, millions around the world have contributed emotional support by keeping those afflicted in their thoughts, prayers, and blessings.
Ingenuity and innovation are flourishing throughout our society, encompassing everything from how multinationals build out their global operations to enhancing the comforts we can afford in our everyday lives. Whether the latest incorporation of AI has enhanced the production line or improved the fluidity of your digital assistant, the drive behind innovation has always been to create and apply solutions to meaningful problems.
For Genesis Club member Dave Wolf, providing the foundation for these disruptive technologies is key to solving previously insurmountable problems, influencing change in our lives, and shaping a better future. As co-founder and managing partner of Pollen Innovation Group, Dave focuses on nurturing brilliant entrepreneurs and impactful innovations that contribute to the well-being of our environment and humanity.
At the heart of this year’s Genesis Friends for Life Global Foundation’s One-Year Memorial Gala, Solange Pot, a celebrated writer and Holocaust educator, will unveil beautiful handcrafted Legacy Boxes—a tribute to resilience, memory, and interfaith understanding. Flying in from Belgium for the November 21 event in Miami, Solange will present the largest of these exquisite pieces for auction and another four to the Megera children, honoring their loss and the enduring strength of their family.
