A powerful night of resilience, reflection and healing is coming to St. Louis. On April 28, just two days before Israel’s official day of remembrance, the local community will hear directly from Deborah Ben-Aderet, a survivor of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. She and her family were evacuated from Kibbutz Zikim near Gaza. Now, for the first time in St. Louis, she’ll share her deeply personal account of that harrowing day and its aftermath.
Joining her is Arielle Turover Cohen, a children’s book author whose grassroots effort, “I Am Brave and Unafraid,” is providing Hebrew-language emotional support materials to children evacuated from Gaza-area communities. The event, moderated by Rabbi Eliezer Finkelstein of Bais Abraham Congregation, will take place from 7–8:30 p.m. and is free to the public.
“As time goes on, the sharpness of tragedies tend to fade,” said Rabbi Finkelstein. “It is important for us to learn about and remember the Oct. 7 attacks not just as a horror against the Jewish people but as a tragic event for individual people, families and communities. And we must work to help the survivors of Oct. 7 as they continue to process their emotions and grieve for their loved ones.”
Having the opportunity to hear Deborah Ben-Aderet’s experience in Kibbutz Zikim on October 7 should serve to open our minds to the realities of that awful day but should also remind us our connection to Israel and the responsibility all Jews have towards each other, which we will also learn about through Arielle Turover Cohen’s “I Am Brave and Unafraid” Book Project.”
When asked about the moment that most stands out from that day, Ben-Aderet responded:
“Our life personally has been divided into ‘before 10/7’ and ‘after 10/7.’ At the time, living through it, we barely understood the magnitude of what was happening, we were just trying to survive. Looking back, I realize that we lived through and survived a massive historical event that will be in textbooks for years to come. And in a lot of ways, we are still living it.
One moment (of many) that stands out is when we heard rapid gunfire while in our ma’amad [safe room]. My husband and I looked at each other in panic, grateful that our girls, then 6 and 8, were too focused on watching TV and didn’t seem to hear it. But we did, and we understood that whatever was happening was within 100 meters from us.”
Ben-Aderet hopes attendees take away a deeper understanding of what happened and why it matters to share these stories:
“The truth. I have always been a huge advocate for Israel and for spreading the truth about her. It is the main reason that I made Aliyah. Now, while antisemitism and misinformation is on the rise, it feels like my calling and my duty to share our story as far and wide as possible.
I want to give people the opportunity to put a face to a survivor’s story. Hearing Holocaust survivors speak since childhood has been a rare and meaningful opportunity that I have appreciated. I want to do the same. And I also want to encourage the Jewish community to help spread the truth and help advocate for Israel and to witness my family’s strength and the strength of am yisrael. We will NOT be defeated!”
When asked how the children of Zikim have coped since the attack, she shared:
“I can not speak for all of the children of Zikim. We are all traumatized in our own ways. I can tell you that my two young girls still have PTSD and maybe always will. Every fire truck or alarm triggers them. They sometimes have bad dreams and sometimes, out of nowhere, bring up parts of 10/7 that were especially scary for them. My 10 year old has returned to sleeping with a nightlight. But they are resilient and despite the trauma from living on the Gaza border and surviving 10/7, they can’t wait to go back to Israel.”
The April 28 event is hosted by Bais Abraham Congregation and supported by Kol Rinah, B’nai Amoona, U. City Shul, Young Israel, Congregation Shaare Emeth, United Hebrew Congregation, Temple Emanuel, Aish St. Louis, Jewish Federation of St. Louis and St. Louis Friends of Israel.
As the organizing synagogue and home of the event’s moderator, Bais Abraham Congregation is proud to lead this important evening of learning and solidarity.
Admission is free but attendees must register in advance to ensure entry due to security requirements: baisabe.com/event/KibbutzZikimSupport
