Cleveland supporters and members of the Kissufim community commemorated the second anniversary of the October 7 Massacre on Sunday, with some good news shared amid solemnity that almost all of the kibbutz members will return by next summer.
The ceremony with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland saw 1,200 people gather to remember those who lost their lives in the Hamas-led 2023 attack, the federation said on Facebook. The event featured a speech by October 7 Massacre survivor Yahel Lifshitz and Kibbutz Kissufim chairman Lior Carmel.
"Two years have passed since that horrific Saturday morning, October 7. We are still trying to understand what happened that morning. Thousands of rockets were fired at Israel in one hour, thousands of Hamas terrorists and civilians from Gaza invaded our communities with the aim of murdering, to rape, burn, kidnap, and destroy everything that symbolizes Israeli or Jewish life," Carmel said, according to a representative of the kibbutz.
"350 terrorists approached the Kissufim area. Eighty of them entered our kibbutz, set fire to houses and murdered: parents, grandparents, young people and children."
Carmel memorialized Itai and Etty Zak, and their 14-year-old son Sagi, who were burned to death in their safe room. Noya Dan was named among the fallen, a 12-year-old autistic girl who was at first thought taken hostage, but was found murdered with her grandmother at Nir Oz.
Cleveland honors Kibbutz Kissufim
Other Kissufim residents who were lost in the attack were honored, including Dafna Gercovich, Ivan Saizar, Menuha Hulati, Ofer Ron, Gina Smiatich, Reuven Heinek, and Tom Godo. Yonatan Hajabi, whose father lived in Kissufim, was also memorialized. He was murdered by terrorists in Moshav Yachini. The chairman also honored six Thai workers killed in the attack, Sophakun Anucha, Sanusan Chairat, Klangsuwan Theerapong, Kaison Aranthit, and Phiia-ia Satawat.
Special mention was made of civilian security officer Saar Margolis, who died fighting to protect the town from invaders. Carmel praised the sacrifices of Margolis and the twenty-eight soldiers who fell trying to save the kibbutz. Among the soldiers was Tomer Nagar. Family members shared with The Jerusalem Post in September how the Golani soldier had held his position while outnumbered so that he could provide cover for his friends.
Former hostage Shlomo Mansour was remembered by participants, with Carmel saying they would not forget how the 86-year-old was murdered and taken to Gaza. His death was only confirmed in February, and his body was returned that month in a ceasefire deal.
Carmel said that the community could also not forget how they were forced to leave their homes, but about 24 families had since returned to the kibbutz to rebuild.
"More than 90% of the members of the Kissufim community will return home by next summer, and within about ten years we will even double our population," said Carmel. "It won't be easy, but we will get through it."
Since October 7, the Cleveland Jewish community has partnered with Kissufim to provide support. Kibbutz residents were visited by hundreds of people from the Cleveland community, and for the last two years, a summer camp in the American city has hosted people from Kissufim.
"You, our wonderful family from Cleveland, made sure we knew we were not alone. You embraced us in so many ways," said Carmel. "Thanks to your support, we were able to rebuild our social services and education system. Thanks to your professional assistance, our children began to heal."
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland said that the participants also renewed their call for the release of all hostages.
"We continue to keep them and their families in our hearts," wrote the federation. "May we all have good news soon."