One year that feels like one long day (or like 4 years)

October 7...need I say more?

We have been on this day for a year now, the day that never ends.

My 101 kidnapped brothers and sisters who are still there. BRING THEM BACK NOW. EVERYONE. NOW. Omer - we are waiting for you!

"Hole in the Heart" is a touching sculpture by Soraya Nazarian. You can see very little of the outside if you look through the small hole, which reminds us of those held in Hamas tunnels for 365 days. 

We cannot go to work at the university because of the missiles, which are fired on Haifa daily now. So I watched the ceremony at the university via Zoom. I'd like to share some highlights from the ceremony, which shows many sides of suffering and of resilience.

Gadi Amichai, who works at the computer support unit of our university is the nephew of 84-year old Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz, kidnapped in their pajamas from their home in Kibbutz Nir-Oz. Yocheved was released as part of the Israeli–Palestinian prisoner exchange in November 2023. Oded is still there. Gadi dreams about Oded. In his dream, he is talking to him. But then he wakes up to reality. Oded's daughter dreams about him every night. In her dream, she is tapping him hard on his back, shouting "Oded, stand up!" but he doesn't. I'm sure you understand the meaning. 

The "Home within the Heart" program was developed by Dr. Yael Mayer and Dr. Yael Enav after engaging in extensive work with displaced families from the Gaza Envelope. Home within the Heart meets the unique needs of displaced families by reframing what it means to be home.

Being with family means being home. But the home of 5-year old Megan (I made up this name but the story is true) was broken for her, when her father was drafted on reserve duty and returned home after 5 months in which she hadn't seen him. She didn't want to hug him, or talk to him, or be with him. In their program, Yael&Yael helped them and many others reconnect, through a 5-step playful journey, facilitated by bunny rabbit dolls knitted by volunteer grandmas. .