Survivors from Kibbutz Beeri Visit and Share Their Story from October 7

Middle Schoolers received a powerful visit from the Segev family, October 7 survivors from Kibbutz Beeri. Doron, Sharon, and their two high-school-aged daughters Gaya and Halleli shared their harrowing story, helping ensure that truth prevails over misinformation and that everyone remembers what Israel is fighting for.

The family woke up early morning on October 7, 2023 to the sounds of bombs. They ran to their saferoom, while receiving texts from fellow kibbutz members that terrorists had infiltrated. Soon, terrorists entered the Segevs’ house. The saferoom door did not lock from inside, so Doron and the girls’ older brother, Maayan, had to hold the door closed with their hands. The terrorists repeatedly tried to open the door to the saferoom, while Doron and Maayan pulled it closed with all their might. Miraculously, the terrorists never succeeded in opening the door nor in opening the room’s steel window. They bombed the window with a grenade, and set fire to the door, but luckily both remained intact. However, the terrorists then set fire to the house, burning it down with the family still inside.

Smoke filled the saferoom. Maayan began to choke, and he realized that he would die from smoke inhalation if he did not die from the terrorists. He made the terrifying decision to flee through the window and hide in bushes outside. Though his family was horrified by this choice, it let fresh air enter the saferoom, crucially allowing them to breathe. Maayan was nearly found by a terrorist disguised as an IDF soldier, who passed next to the bush; however, Maayan realized just in time not to reveal himself and was not discovered. Finally, true IDF soldiers arrived, and Maayan immediately told them to rescue his family from the burning house, thus saving their lives.

The Segevs ultimately spent 12 hours inside the saferoom, unable to eat or drink or use the bathroom. Meanwhile, many of their friends throughout the kibbutz were murdered or kidnapped. Gaya’s best friend was killed: her final text before her death informed her friends that terrorists had entered, and that she gave her friends her love. The Segevs’ next-door neighbors were also attacked: both parents were murdered, and both children were kidnapped. Though those children were released in the first hostage deal, five Kibbutz Beeri hostages remain in captivity, all of them murdered.

After October 7, the government relocated them to a hotel, where they remained for a year. They discussed with Ramaz students that they still struggle with the aftermath of their trauma, and that they cannot fully heal while the hostages are in captivity. They answered fascinating questions from students and faculty, including what the kibbutz’s relationship with Gazans was like prior to October 7. Doron explained that Beeri had employed Gazans for years in the local publishing house, until Hamas took power in 2006 and outlawed Gazans from working in Israel. Since their Gazan neighbors no longer had this source of income, Beeri pooled money every single year to donate to them. This generosity, however, did not stop the attack. The Segevs plan to return to Beeri soon, and described the differing opinions from kibbutz members about how best to memorialize October 7 without re-traumatizing inhabitants. Attendees were extremely grateful for the Segevs’ visit and for their candor in sharing their story. The assembly ended with heartfelt renditions of songs, including “Acheinu” and “Kol Ha’Olam Kulo,” as everyone reaffirmed their commitment to Israel and to Am Yisrael.