On October 7, 2023, two survivors of the Hamas attacks on Israel shared their harrowing experiences with the Jewish community in San Francisco. The event, held at Congregation Chevra Thilim, drew a large crowd eager to hear the first-hand accounts of Eliya and Ziv, who survived the assault while attending the Nova Music Festival.
Rebecca Goodman, a Bay Area resident and employee of the Jewish Community Relations Council, expressed the importance of witnessing their stories. “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 survivors recounted their ordeal in a bomb shelter during the attack, highlighting the traumatic events they endured. Rabbi Shlomo Zarchi provided further context, revealing that grenades were thrown into the shelter, resulting in very few survivors. Eliya was kidnapped and held in captivity for a staggering 505 days. Unbeknownst to him, his girlfriend Ziv remained trapped in the shelter, where she survived by either playing dead or being concealed under bodies, according to Zarchi.
After Ziv’s rescue, she dedicated herself to bringing Eliya home. Their emotional reunion was captured on video, where the joy of their first meeting was palpable. “It’s a miracle,” said Siena Naaman Cohen, co-founder and CEO of The Chosen Foundation, emphasizing the significance of their survival.
Community Reflection and Support
Jewish community leaders explained the critical need to share these stories, particularly in light of the ongoing antisemitism globally. Cohen noted, “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 remain strong.” He also highlighted that it took nearly two years to secure the release of all hostages, with more than 200 individuals initially taken captive.
Ziv and Eliya, now reunited, are traveling across the country to share their remarkable story of survival. They plan to celebrate their upcoming marriage in August, having waited until all hostages were released to begin their new life together. Rabbi Zarchi remarked on the significance of their decision: “It’s such an extraordinary message of resilience, hope, and compassion.”
Those attending the event underscored the importance of solidarity in these times. Greg Hutchinson, a resident of San Anselmo, stated, “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 must not be forgotten.”
The powerful narratives shared by Ziv and Eliya resonate deeply within the community, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and support during these challenging times. As their story unfolds, it serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
