October 7th

Photo by Taylor Brandon on Unsplash

By Erin Deborah Waks

If you’ve read the headline on this, you’ll either know exactly what I’m about to talk about, or you’ll be confused as to why a writer such as myself has used a seemingly random date as a title.

I’m saddened to think this way, but the reality is, even in the circles I run in, some people might not know what, precisely, October 7th refers to or signifies. But in recent Jewish history, it is perhaps one of the most significant days for Jewry since the Holocaust.

On October 7th 2023, exactly a year ago, terrorist organisation Hamas launched their largest ever terrorist attack on Israel. Hamas stormed through a security fence separating Gaza and Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and injuring so many more. 251 people were taken as hostages - 97 of whom remain unaccounted for. 

Today, I’m not going to write about the conflict that has followed this fateful day. I’m not going to talk about the undeniable, traumatic suffering many Gazans, Palestinians and Israelis have suffered in the year since. This isn’t a tit-for-tat exercise in comparing pain, hardship, trauma and intense distress felt by both peoples.

I’m writing about this one day. 

I’m writing about Liri Albag, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th. Who is one of four siblings. Like me.

I’m writing about Agam Berger, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th. Who is musically talented and plays the violin. Like me.

I’m writing about Daniella Gilboa, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th. Who has long, dark brown hair. Like me.

I’m writing about Karina Ariev, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th. Who was born in early August. Like me.

I could go on. Every single name deserves to be written, acknowledged, prayed for. These are just four of so many hostages, living through the unimaginable. They are all women, like me. They are all twentysomething, like me. They are all Jewish. Like me. 

So, I’m writing because, in truth, I am a writer who, for once, has absolutely nothing to say.