October 7, 2023, the darkest day in Israel’s history, ignited in many Jews a feeling that something must change. For some, such as Tehillah Blech and Ron Segev, that feeling resulted in career changes so that they could contribute to Jewish life in a way which was meaningful to them.

Blech was an executive director of an Upper West Side shul when October 7 happened. Almost immediately following the attack, the shul at which Blech davened (not where she worked), The Jewish Center, decided it was going to have a mission to Israel and approached Blech to plan it.

She was flattered that the shul had tapped her to plan the mission. “The shul had a ‘spiritual appeal’ during the High Holy Days shortly before October 7 and asked us to check off different ways we might be able to contribute. I checked off that I would be interested in working on missions or trips to Israel because I love to travel, am organized and people-oriented,” Blech said.

Although she had been on previous missions to Israel with The Jewish Center more than 20 years ago during the Intifada, planning a mission was new territory: “I’ve always been a quick learner. I jumped right in, watched a lot on social media, got ideas and took notes,” she said.

“I had a tour operator in Israel who helped make the logistical arrangements, and we brainstormed what to cover. For every one thing we put in the itinerary, there were five things we actually looked into that were rejected or fell by the wayside because we discovered something else that was better.”

Since October 7, Blech has planned and participated in four Jewish Center missions to Israel: one in December 2023 and three in 2024. As Rabbi Dr. Yosie Levine of The Jewish Center stated of Blech’s missions: “Tehillah always has her finger on the pulse of what’s going to move people. And if ever anything unexpected happens, she’s totally unflappable. There’s no one I would rather have organizing and leading our missions.”

Having received much positive feedback from mission participants, especially as to how they appreciated Blech’s positive energy and attention to detail regarding every aspect of the trip, Blech founded a tour operator company called Travel Tribe Tours, specializing in travel for those who are kosher and shomer Shabbat.

“It really hit me after planning the missions that there are other people like me who want to travel with groups which cater to their needs,” Blech said. “Travel Tribe Tours is tongue-in-cheek for members of the tribe who have similar religious needs and restrictions and want to explore the world with other people.”

When asked about the the most rewarding aspect of planning the missions, she reflected: “There are many, but one in particular is that I loved creating positive shared experiences for the groups, where not everyone knew each other beforehand. I hope to continue creating those experiences for Jewish travelers on trips to come.”

Ron Segev is a Nova Festival survivor, whose life was forever changed on October 7.

Segev, an Israeli, had a unique career trajectory. He was an accomplished professional bridge player and teacher for many years, before ultimately leaving the bridge world to pursue a career in sales. About two weeks before October 7 the company for which Segev worked shut down, putting him out of a job.

From an emotional perspective, after October 7 Segev could not even contemplate looking for work, given that he had just narrowly escaped death. From a practical perspective, the job market was difficult because many Israelis were called up for reserve duty and businesses were closed.

Being home much of the time, Segev began doing interviews for foreign television and various news channels, telling the story of his escape from the Nova Festival.

After several weeks, though, Segev did not feel he was making much of an impact. “There were just so many stories of survival which needed to be told and so many stories to be heard,” he told The Jewish Link.

About a year ago, Segev and his uncle began volunteering at Ichilov hospital, where visitors from the United States as well as injured soldiers asked him to tell the story of how he escaped the terrorists on October 7. Segev’s story is nothing short of miraculous as he, along with his brother, hid for hours and ran for their lives until they found an abandoned car and made their way to safety, rescuing many others along the way.

It was Segev’s natural ability as a storyteller, though, that garnered praise from his audiences and made him realize that he was meant to tell his story.

Segev now heads the Ambassador Program for the Tribe of Nova Foundation, an Israeli nonprofit whose goal is to support Nova Festival survivors in recovering from their trauma. To raise funds for the foundation, Segev and others share their testimonies in synagogues, private homes, companies and elsewhere.

Examples of programs which the Foundation provides for survivors include horseback riding and surfing, camping trips and wellness days. It also runs programs to aid survivors in their return to the workforce.

Segev shared: “This is something that I’m doing not simply because someone needs to do it; I feel like I’ve been chosen to do this. When I had the terrorist above my head, I closed my eyes and saw myself standing at my bar mitzvah talking to the audience.

“It might sound crazy, but I felt like this was some sort of message for me from God. Just like I spoke at my bar mitzvah, this is what I’ve been chosen to do. To get out of my victimhood and be the hero of my own story.”

After October 7, so many Jews are looking for ways to contribute in a meaningful fashion. Changing careers is just one way. Being the heroes of our own stories is something every individual can define for themselves.

Judith Falk is the creator of the Upper West Side Shtetl Facebook Group. You can follow her on instagram @nyc.shtetl. She is a lawyer by day and a former legal reporter.