Two survivors of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel recounted their traumatic experiences to the Jewish community in San Francisco on Sunday. The event took place at Congregation Chevra Thilim, where attendees gathered to hear first-hand accounts from Eliya and Ziv, who survived the violent assaults at the Nova Music Festival.
Bay Area resident Rebecca Goodman, who works for the Jewish Community Relations Council, expressed her motivation for attending. “I want to hear their story. I want to bear witness so that when others tell me this, it did not happen, I can say I heard from people who were there,” she stated. The synagogue was filled with individuals eager to listen to the harrowing tales of survival shared by the two young adults.
Both Eliya and Ziv found refuge in a bomb shelter during the attacks. Their ordeal was marked by chaos and fear, as they faced a barrage of violence. Rabbi Shlomo Zarchi described the intensity of the situation, noting, “They had thrown grenades into the shelter. Very few people survived in there.”
Eliya was taken hostage during the attacks and held for an agonizing 505 days. During this time, he was unaware of the fate of Ziv, who had managed to survive in the shelter. Rabbi Zarchi detailed Ziv’s experience, stating, “She either played dead, or she was buried under bodies.”
After Ziv’s eventual rescue, she made it her mission to advocate for Eliya’s release. Their reunion was a poignant moment, captured in video footage that shows the joy of their first encounter following his release. “It’s a miracle,” remarked Siena Naaman Cohen, co-founder and CEO of The Chosen Foundation.
Community leaders emphasized the importance of sharing these survival stories to foster understanding about the events of October 7. “For us, it’s just to hear the story. Just after 500 days in captivity, I can’t imagine how you survive so many days and still be strong,” Cohen said. She highlighted the larger context, noting that it took nearly two years to secure the release of all hostages, with over 200 individuals affected.
Now, Eliya and Ziv tour across the country, sharing their inspiring narrative of endurance and hope. They also announced plans to marry in August, marking a new chapter in their lives. “They waited until the release of all the hostages to begin their celebration of life. It’s such an extraordinary message of resilience, hope, and compassion,” Rabbi Zarchi added.
Attendees at the event expressed the significance of hearing these stories, especially in light of the rising antisemitism globally. Greg Hutchinson, a resident of San Anselmo, emphasized the need for solidarity. “Now, with all the antisemitism in the world, I think it’s really important that even Americans who are not Jewish stand alongside them to show support for everything that’s going on. The travesty that happened on October 7,” he stated.
The stories shared by Eliya and Ziv serve as powerful reminders of the human capacity for resilience and the importance of remembrance in the face of tragedy. As their journey continues, they aim to keep the dialogue alive, ensuring that their experiences are not forgotten.
