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What if it was me? What happens if I was born on Nir Oz instead of in New York City? Not 2002, but 2022?
From the first time I saw Ariel and Kfir Bibas photos, I had no choice but to imagine them as my brother and me. And not only for our red hair, we were about the same age and practiced the same Judaism.
The wildness and scale of October 7, 2023 was immeasurable, so much of the day's story has not been featured in mainstream media. Kibbutz nir Oz's American Israeli Siman Tov family was everything I was murdered In my bedroom. They were burned alive, ranging from 2 to 35 years old.
Siri Vivas and her children, Siri Vivas, Kufia Vivas and Ariel Vivas. (Courtesy: Hostage Family Forum)
Their neighbor, the Vivas family, was rather It is considered a hostage. Her parents, Yalden and Siri, and Ariel, just 4 years old, and Kfir, 10 months old, were taken hostage. When the prisoners killed Siri and her two sons, that is not exactly clear, but Israeli authorities determined that the boy had been strangled. Yalden lived under Gaza and was starved, beaten and tortured psychologically for over 500 days. He returned to Israel as part of a hostage-taking counterterrorism exchange with Israel.
While being taken prisoner, there was a faint hope that Yaden Bibas' wife and two children would one day return home. Despite knowing the stories of countless others who proved the wildness of the Shem Tov family and Hamas, there was a small feeling that, as I did, they might have an opportunity to grow.
It wasn't just our hair that made me feel connected – slowly, more photos came out, so I realized there was more in common. We were all dressed as Batman. There was the same stuffed animal. We had the same smile and laugh. And I was wondering, What if it was me??
Has Hamas still lured me in and killed my classmate? Will they still burn my house? Raid my kindergarten? They are rape My teacher, and their destruction for the livestream world to see? Will Hamas still torture my family and hold my destiny above my father's head? Will they brutally strangle my unprotected brother and me with their naked hands? Will the Palestinians blew the cheers and mouths of Hamas as they paraded my body at a ceremony to celebrate the illness?
From left: Yaden, Ariel, Siri, Kfir (Ofri Bibas Levy)
Do your University of Pennsylvania classmates still chant “resistance is justified”? ”Alcasam is proud of us,“And in Arabic”From the river to the sea, Palestine becomes Arab!“Do they set up camp to scream 'You're next'?Hamas should do it again“While Jewish students project footage from the massacre, will they lead the rally with PFLP flags and photos? Abu Obeida – Official Hamas spokesman? Are many of my non-Jewish friends silent?
I still have a professor at my university tear down My face poster? They will still celebrate October 7th – Tweet.”While we were asleep, Palestine reinvented a new way of life“Then we parade with a poster that says, 'The victory over Palestine's resistance.' academic and Reasonable Hamas defense?
Yes, they'll have. Hamas and their global supporters would have done exactly the same thing as me and me if they had the chance.
Now I can't see pictures of their babies without looking at pictures of my babies, and I can't see myself without looking at them. You shouldn't either.
This is not unique to me. Hamas lured, terrified, killed people of all ages, all lives, and all nationalities and religions. Kfir was the youngest Shlomo Mantzur He was the oldest hostage of 86. It was recently discovered that Mantool was also murdered on October 7th, with only his body being held hostage. Hamas terrified farmers, peace advocates, software engineers and journalists. On October 7th, they chased after anyone could get it – Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Beduin, Christians. People of more than 25 nationalities have been held hostages – including American citizens like Edan Alexander, who are still being held hostages. Please visit Massacre Project Mapping To find details of the victims on October 7th. I guarantee you will find so many heartbreaking stories that have so many similarities with you.
The next time I hear a chan chan on the street, I see people tearing hostage posters and people trying to intimidate Jews. Imagine that was you and your family.
If you waited for time to educate your friends, it came. If you wait for time to support Israel, it's here. If you were waiting for time to call for Hamas' wildness and oppose anti-Semitism or speak up, then it's now.
This article was adapted from Noah Rubin's speech at the Memorial at the University of Pennsylvania Hillel University in Ariel, KFIR, Silivivvas, and oded lifshitz.
