This is a running collection of Hadassah Magazine's coverage of the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in southern Israel, the subsequent war in Gaza and the implications for world Jewry. Explore these stories of survival and heroism, including digital-exclusive pieces as well as articles that originally appeared in print, and read the many poignant essays on resilience, unity and hope.
In Times of Terror, Israelis Turn to Classical Music
Amid the fears of the ongoing war, the Carmel Quartet prepares for a new season of concerts that will offer refuge and moments of musical beauty for listeners.
Books on 10.7 Share First-Hand Accounts, Poetry and Prayers
New titles feature the diary of an IDF reservist, essays from Israeli writers and journalists and a prayerbook created by Israeli women in response to the war.
Deborah Lipstadt on the ‘Tsunami’ of Antisemitism
Ambassador Lipstadt, the Biden administration's antisemitism envoy, recently initiated global guidelines to fight Jew-hatred that she described as "pro-active" rather than reactive.
Hearing the Shofar Blast at the Shiva for Hersh Goldberg-Polin
That plaintive, familiar sound represented the start of a new year ahead as well as the end of a young life full of hopes and dreams.
Welcome Home: A Graphic Essay on Visiting Israel
An American graphic storyteller and writer considers where she feels most at home—Israel or the United States—in a world of rising antisemitism and anti-Zionist sentiment.
Michal Cotler-Wunsh on Defining the Battle Against Antisemitism
The Israeli diplomat warns “This is an existential moment for the Jewish people, for the State of Israel and for our shared civilization.”
Forging a New Vision of American Judaism and American Zionism
The only way Israel will learn from, listen to or care about American Jews is if we show ourselves to be living energetic Jewish lives.
Aviva Klompas Is Reimagining Israel Education
Her organization, Boundless Israel, and new book aim to build confidence for those engaged in conversations around Israel and antisemitism.
Busy and Blessed: The Elements of Jewish Resilience
In good times and bad, we are conditioned to navigate parallel realms.
‘Their Portraits’ Depicts Israeli Loss, Remembrance and Family
A new Dallas exhibit offers 200 paintings of men, women and children captured by Hamas on October 7.
New Cafes Offer Pastries and Purpose for October 7 Survivors
At Café Otef, displaced Israelis are given an income and a space to heal and tell their story.
The Appeal of Making Aliyah in the Shadow of October 7
Amid war and uncertainty, thousands of Diaspora Jewish families are feeling Israel’s unwavering pull.
‘How Isn’t It Going? Conversations After October 7’
With cries of pain and moments of humor, French Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur’s latest is a powerful response to the shock and fracturing of the past year.
‘Israel Alone:’ All Roads Lead to Antisemitism
“No land on this planet is a shelter for Jews; that is what the Event of October 7 proclaims,” Bernard-Henri Lévy writes in his new book.
New Books Examine Our Post-10/7 Landscape
A trio of new volumes bear witness to the worst moments in Israel’s history and bear witness to raw trauma and heroism.
October 7 War Stories From the Extended Hadassah Family
Stories where heroism and tragedy on Israel’s battlefields are paralleled by resourcefulness and ingenuity in Hadassah’s hallways.
‘Let There Be Light’ Feels More Urgent Than Ever
I can’t think of a declaration more intrepid or poignant for the first painful anniversary of October 7.
Gabrielle Zevin Targeted as a ‘Zionist’ Author
The acclaimed author’s appearance at a One Book, One Hadassah event was enough to include her on a blacklist of ‘Zionist’ authors.
Recommitting to Our Pride as Jews and Zionists
Israel’s legitimacy is questioned more widely than ever. For many, the central issue is Zionism, which they misunderstand—out of malign intent or ignorance.
Fighting to Hold Hamas Accountable
Maintaining pressure on the United Nations is part of a multipronged strategy as groups work to bring attention to the sexual violence and torture perpetrated by Hamas.
October 7 Survivors Will Not Be Silenced
Israelis demand that the world take action to hold Hamas accountable for their brutality and to ensure that sexual violence as a weapon of war will not be tolerated.
The Displaced Senior Kibbutzniks Thriving in Exile
In many ways, life at a hotel for October 7 refugees is like an assisted-living facility—and how the kibbutz used to be.
October 7 Film Bears Witness to Hamas’s Sexual Violence
'You cannot stay the same after watching the film, and you cannot look away,' says 'Screams Before Silence' director Anat Stalinsky.
The Tragic Fate of Israel’s Female Observer Soldiers
Why were these women’s repeated warnings about a potential Hamas infiltration ignored?
The Ongoing Psychological Impact of October 7
“We’re at the beginning of a collective national trauma whose ramifications will be with us for a generation,” says psychiatrist Dr. Amit Lotan.
A Tale of Lists and Blacklists
Careful research, critical thinking and precise language seems to go out the door in the literary community when talking about books and writing by Jews and/or Zionists.
The Psychological Impact of the Rise of Antisemitism
For Jews of every age, according to mental health professionals, the global conflagration of anti-Jewish hate has been a triggering event.
Commemorating October 7 With Tattoos
Traditionally considered taboo in Judaism, hundreds of Jews and Israelis are 'finding strength' by getting inked.
Despite the Angst, We’re Not Crossing Schools Off the List
For many reasons, limiting my daughter’s college choices feels like the wrong approach.
Jewish Students Shouldn’t Be Forced to Hide
The dissonance between my experiences at Barnard in the 1990s and the current state of violent protests and disunity at Columbia has left me speechless.
Choosing a College as If This Nightmare Weren’t Happening
One mother shares that her most pressing concern is identifying schools that are willing and able to protect Jewish students while allowing free speech.
The Israel-Hamas War Being Fought on Campus
After my son and I witnessed protests at UT Austin, a stark new reality has dawned on me: His college search will be markedly different than mine.
A Northwestern Alumna and Mom Weighs In
This year, the one applicant I interviewed and who was accepted is Jewish. She has now declined her offer to Northwestern—and I don’t blame her.
Chayal’s Angels Brings Alternative Treatment to Soldiers
Tasha Cohen’s volunteer 'army for the army' has provided 2500 soldiers with injury care since the start of the war.
Cochav Elkayam-Levy Exposes the Brutality of Hamas’s Crimes
By establishing her civil commission, Elkayam-Levy, one of Israel's top legal minds, advocates for women victimized by Hamas.
Food World Insiders Contribute to Israel’s War Effort
Starting on October 7, ordinary citizens rushed to assist their country in its time of need. For those in the food world, efforts often congregated around the kitchen.
Channeling Queen Esther
As Esther did with Haman, Jewish women today must again call evil by its name and refuse to be erased or exploited. By anyone.
Picking Oranges in Israel
A graduate student struggled through interactions with people unaffected or oblivious to the Israel-Hamas war. That changed the second she landed in Israel to volunteer on a farm.
Israel’s October 7 Refugees
Israelis evacuated from their homes in the North and South of the country struggle with harsh new realities and difficult choices.
Citizens Kitchen Feeds Israelis Affected By War
In the first month of the war, Tel Aviv-based cooking studio Citrus & Salt’s volunteer initiative distributed more than 10,000 meals to soldiers, bereaved families and more.
This Israeli Therapy Toy Treats Children With Trauma
Meaning “my hug” in Hebrew, Hibuki stuffed therapeutic toys help children cope with the trauma of war and earthquakes.
Israel Serves as the Insurance Policy of Jews Worldwide
The unique history and circumstances of the Jewish people make clear why Israel is so essential to safeguard Jewish life.
Keep Calm and Craft
In the wake of October 7, some Hadassah members are turning to ‘craftivism’ to ease anxiety, depression and stress.
A Mother’s Phantom Pain for Her Murdered Son
Hadassah life member Julie Bausi is traumatized by the final moments of her beloved son, Itai, who was murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival.
Haredi Women Contribute to War Effort
During Israel’s war with Hamas, volunteering has been at an all-time high, with many haredi women spearheading important initiatives.
Cooking as Wartime Comfort
Post October 7, social media culinary stars share Israeli pride and flavor on Instagram.
‘Am Yisrael Chai:’ Writing Through Pain
Rabbi Menachem Creditor’s new anthology is a response to Hamas’s carnage.
Meet the Volunteers Healing Israel at Hadassah Hospitals
The growth in volunteering echoes the nationwide desire among civilians to come together and contribute to the war effort.
Painful and Piercing Public Art as Therapy
The hunger to create and share these works of art is a testament to the widespread trauma that grips Israeli society.
‘A Great Awakening’ for American Jewry
Will this closer identification to Israel last when the crisis is over?
The Female Heroes on the Battlefield and Homefront
From soldiers to brave civilians, many Israelis owe their lives to women who answered the call of duty on October 7.
Time for a Reassessment Among Jewish Americans
If antisemitism is a fact, then what can we do about it? Historically, there are three options: Stay and fight, leave and rebuild, or do nothing.
Bearing Witness for Rape Victims of Hamas
Jewish groups are pressuring the U.N. to move beyond tepid responses to a full-throated condemnation of Hamas and advocacy on behalf of Israeli victims.
Elizabeth Rand, the OG ‘Mother Against College Antisemitism’
'We can’t sit here on Facebook and complain all day," Rand thought to herself before forming the influential social media group. 'We have to do something.'
Meet the Pro-Israel Pups of Instagram
Post-October 7, a slew of Instagram accounts have been chronicling the ardent, and adorable, Zionist leanings of a litter-ful of dogs—and their human parents.
U.N. Session Decries Inattention to Hamas’s Abuse of Women
'Rape should never be used as an act of war,' Sheryl Sandberg said. 'And the truth must be upheld despite the politics of our time.'
Explaining the Inexplicable to College Students
A young Israeli activist helps U.S. college students navigate the Israel-Hamas war.
Standing Strong in the Face of Evil
Three quarters of a century after the Holocaust, there has never been a more critical moment to defend Israel and the Jewish people.
An Open Letter to the World on Antisemitism
Such profound levels of hatred and indifference to the threat to Jews "has been a devastating shock."
The Economic Fallout of War
The longer Israel battles Hamas in Gaza, the higher the costs and the slower Israel’s economic recovery will be.
The Artists Behind the Hostage Poster Project
Created by Israeli artists, the ‘Kidnapped’ project has become a flashpoint in the anguished global conversation about the men, women and children taken by Hamas terrorists.
Israeli Moms Serving on the Home Front
A record 350,000-plus Israelis, mostly men, have been called up for reserve duty. Now, thousands of mothers have become single parents, depending on the support of community.
Netflix’s Aleeza Ben Shalom on Love in the Time of War
The star of 'Jewish Matchmaking' reflects on the uptick of weddings during the war in Israel and her own career path in bringing people to the chuppah.
Rising Tide of Anti-Israel Sentiment in Britain
A sober view from London after the Hamas terror attacks, from massive pro-Palestinian rallies to support from the government and the royal family.
Finding Strength in Community at Virginia Tech
"I cannot sleep," writes the author. "I sit in class numb, not listening to a single word. I’m only 17 but I know I cannot be silent."
Sorrow and Resilience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
For many American Jewish college students, there’s no escape from the deep antisemitism present at the same institutions that pride themselves on diversity, equity and inclusion.
‘Feeling Abandoned’ by the Univ. of Washington and Middlebury
Normalized antisemitism is terrifying, especially among the people on campus who support and uplift all marginalized groups besides Jews.
How to Explain the War to Children
A Jerusalem-based nonprofit has developed a guide to talking to young children about the war in Israel.
The Psychiatrists Treating Israel’s ‘Collective Trauma’
After Hamas’s assault on the Jewish State, psychiatrists Dr. Esti Galil-Weisstrub and Dr. Amit Shalev focus on emergency mental health aid to support a nation reeling with shock.
Israel’s Other Secret Weapon
Israel’s secret weapon, Golda Meir once said, is that “we have no place else to go.” But there’s another tool in our arsenal: community.
Heartbroken, Distraught—and Mobilized
Killing Jews is still possible, but not without consequences. Today, we have a nation and an army—and hospitals and friends around the world who support us.
The ‘Lucky Ones’: Victims Treated at Hadassah Hospital
Michal Ohana, 27, took a bullet in her leg as she ran for her life from Haman gunfire. 'I was one of the lucky ones,' she said.
What Will Be at the End of It All?
It’s now day three since our reality changed. Thousands of Israeli reservists have been called up, including my nephews and neighbors, friends’ children and my boys’ teachers.
War in Israel, Once Again
During the Yom Kippur War, I worried about my husband and our friends after they joined their reserve units. Today, it is our children and grandchildren fighting.
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