On October 7, Hamas sought to destroy Jewish life – not just by murdering men, women, and children, but by trying to erase entire communities. Yet as I stood in Kibbutz Nirim, surrounded by our delegation, it was clear Hamas had failed.
As part of the National Jewish Assembly’s (NJA) Solidarity Mission to Israel, we visited kibbutzim devastated by the massacre. In Kibbutz Nirim, we met Adele Raemer, a woman of immense strength who lost over 50 people from her community. Despite her grief, she was resolute: Nirim would not disappear. “Community builds resilience, and resilience is what we are about,” she told us.
That resilience was embodied in a singular, powerful act – affixing a mezuzah on her home. A mezuzah is more than a religious object; it is a declaration that Jewish life endures.
As we stood together, affixing the mezuzah – donated by the NJA and an anonymous donor from Chabad – the weight of the moment was profound. Hamas may have tried to erase Jewish life here, but they failed. This act of faith and defiance showed that Jewish life is stronger than ever.
When the mezuzah was affixed by the Rabbi from Chabad of Sderot, the air filled with spontaneous cries of “Mazel Tov!” – words that had been absent from these walls for too long. Adele beamed, flashing the now-iconic hand gesture of British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari, who was recently freed from captivity, and together we sang Am Yisrael Chai. It was a moment of renewal, hope, and resistance.
This mission was not just about witnessing tragedy – it was about standing with those rebuilding from the ashes. British Jewry has a duty to support these communities, to counter the lies that distort the truth, and to ensure the world does not forget.
This mezuzah was a promise. A promise that we will not be silent. A promise that Jewish life will continue. A promise that Hamas will never win. Because no matter how hard they try, Am Yisrael Chai.
By Dalia Hajioff, Events and Projects Manager, National Jewish Assembly
