As the war in Israel rages on, survivors of October 7 have been sharing their stories at SAR High School. Last week, the students listened in awe as these heroic speakers told stories of tragedy, loss, survival and building relationships going forward.
Yadin G., an Israeli actor, entrepreneur and major in reserves in IDF special forces spoke to 10th graders on Wednesday about his experiences on that fateful day. Yadin and his team rushed to the front lines to defend Israel’s border communities on October 7, 2023, and Yadin was critically wounded in a firefight after he saved countless Israelis from being taken hostage. While he is still rehabilitating, he has become a unique and powerful voice for Israel, telling his story in his travels across the United States.
“I can’t even begin to explain how moving it was to hear Yadin’s story,” saidSophomore Kayla N. “His narrative shined light on miracles that happened throughout his near-death experience and really brought a sense of reality to the trauma we are going through as a nation. He ended his speech by honoring his friend David Haim Meir, z”l, who unfortunately passed on October 7, by telling a story of how they had polar opposite views on various topics, yet still managed to have a beautiful friendship and love and respect each other throughout their time in the army. He really brought a live example of how we should take our differences and learn to respect and accept others who are different from us. I am grateful to Yadin, for sharing his story, and inspiring us to leave the world better than how we found it.”
“It was very powerful to hear Yadin speak,” says Eitan M. “It was very inspirational to hear all the hardships Yadin has faced, yet he still wants to recover and serve once again in the IDF. Listening to him speak was very emotional and I’m glad he shared his story with us.”
On Thursday, Kinneret H. brought a unique perspective to discussions on the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East in a talk with 12th graders. As an Israeli officer with extensive experience in the West Bank, Kinneret has worked closely with the Palestinian Authority and local civilians. Her fluency in Arabic has enabled her to foster meaningful relationships with Palestinian communities, providing her with deep insights into the region’s intricate dynamics.
Senior Rena N. said she was in awe that “here is someone so close in age to herself and carries so much responsibility. Yet she does it with so much poise and mental clarity, it is something to aspire to as a woman, a human being, and a member of Am Yisrael.”
Senior Ben S. added that he found the sergeant’s talk “really eye-opening about the multi-faceted approach that the IDF takes to de-escalate tensions between Israeli and Palestinians while also trying to combat terrorism. The IDF employs diplomacy as a tactic in war and is not just using guns and bombs.”
While serving as an officer in the IDF, Kinneret has also been producing several documentaries, including a significant piece on the Hamas attack set to be broadcast globally on ARTE, ITV, and PBS. Her background includes contributions to educational initiatives in the UK and US, collaboration with the Middle East Forum, and work with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kinneret has delivered lectures on the war and the humanitarian situation, speaking at institutions such as the University of Birmingham and to Jewish communities in London. Her talks draw on her diverse experiences to provide a nuanced understanding of Israel-Palestine relations, regional security challenges, humanitarian issues in conflict zones, and the role of media in shaping perceptions in war.
Both speakers brought new insight to the students’ understanding of what happened on October 7 and in its aftermath.
