The privately organized memorial ceremony honoring the victims of the October 7 attack took place Monday at 7:00 PM in Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park, about an hour before the official pre-recorded state ceremony was aired on national television. The state ceremony, which was filmed a few weeks ago in Ofakim and is not taking place in real-time, includes partial audience attendance, a recorded video of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and also of President Isaac Herzog.
A video with remarks by President Isaac Herzog was screened at the beginning of the ceremony. "It's been a year since the morning of Simchat Torah that turned into our day of tragedy. The morning of October 7, when a murderous enemy entered our homes, burned and tortured, raped and wounded, massacred and kidnapped," said the President. "Until my last day, I will be accompanied by the smell of burned bodies and the sight of pools of blood, alongside family photos and children's books – in the paradise that turned into hell."
Herzog spoke about the hostages who have been in Gaza for a year and emphasized that the leadership is committed to bringing them back. "For a year now, in an abominable crime against humanity, our sisters and brothers have been held hostage by murderers. Our hearts are tied to them with bonds of love and concern. And we know that we will not be whole – until they return to us. The sanctity of life, which flows in our veins as a nation, obligates us – especially the leadership – to fulfill the supreme human, Jewish, and Israeli command: to return them quickly."
The President expressed support for the bereaved families. "I turn to you - daughters and sons of the bereaved families. I look into your tearful, painful eyes, and in the name of an entire country - I bow my head in gratitude and awe, and hope that you will still know healing and comfort."
In conclusion, Herzog expressed hope, saying, "I see a new building rising from the fragments and ruins. I see a bright and burning friendship, brotherhood, hope, and a strong Israeli spirit – undefeated. We will rise together, only together, and this love, sanctified in blood, will bloom among us again."
"A year ago, on October 7th, we were all thrown into a fateful battle," Netanyahu began in a video screened during the ceremony. "This day – the Sabbath of Simchat Torah – will be etched in our nation's history as a day of pain and loss, and indescribable sorrow. On this day, the Hamas monsters stormed our settlements, our brothers and sisters, who are so dear to our hearts. They murdered and kidnapped infants and children, adults and the elderly."
Netanyahu referred to the resilience of Israeli society and emphasized the importance of continuing the war: "In a supreme test, we have proven again: We are the eternal people. A people that fights to bring light to the world, a people that strives to spread good and eradicate evil. As long as the enemy threatens our existence and the peace of our state – we will continue to fight. As long as our hostages are in Gaza – we will continue to fight. We will not give up on any one of them. I will not give up."
During the ceremony, the song "In Our Garden" by singer Shay-Li Atari, whose husband Yahav was murdered in the massacre, was performed. A new verse was written for the song dedicated to the children killed by rocket fire in Majdal Shams. "In our garden everyone is welcome / Who grew up facing the valley view, who played in the shadow of the mountain / Asking for a minute of silence, this very day / Between tears and laughter of a child who remained on the field"
The ceremony hosts were Hen Zender, who lost her sister Noa in the Nova party massacre, Orin Gantz Zach, whose daughter Eden Zacharia was kidnapped from the party and murdered in Hamas captivity, Shimon Atias, who lost his niece Amit Buskila in Nova, Ruti Gringlik, whose son Shauli was killed in battle in Gaza, and Yudan Pirt, from Kibbutz Kissufim, who experienced with his family the trauma of the massacre, the fight for home, and evacuation from the south.
In line with Homefront Command directives restricting gatherings of over 2,000 people in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, event organizers of the privately held event that took place earlier have announced a reduced audience, primarily comprising bereaved families and relatives of hostages. The event was set to be followed by a broadcast of the pre-recorded official state memorial ceremony filmed several weeks ago.
A minute of silence was observed at 7:10 PM, with organizers calling on all citizens to stand in solidarity with the affected families during this poignant moment. Rabbi Shmuel Slutzky, who lost bost sons on that day, begins the October 7 memorial event with a moment of silence. The brother of the late Carmel Gat, who was kidnapped to Gaza and murdered in captivity, spoke painfully about his mother and sister. "The consolation I find is in life. When I see Yarden (Or's sister, who returned from captivity in the hostage release deal) playing with my daughter Geffen."
Initially, about 40,000 tickets were allocated for public attendance. However, the current security situation has prompted a decision to hold a more intimate ceremony. The event was set to be broadcast live across all Israeli television channels and approximately 50 international networks. More than 150 cities in Israel and worldwide have planned community screenings.
Hosted by Rotem Sela and Hanoch Daum, the ceremony weaved together themes of remembrance, grief, heroism, hope, and resilience. The program featured moving collaborations between community representatives, families, and artists.
Video: The moment of silence in the ceremony
The event showcased performances by a constellation of Israel's most renowned artists.
