These are the voices of those who lived through October 7th, 2023. Their firsthand accounts offer a window into the events of that day—tales of loss, courage, survival, and resilience. Each story is a testament to the human experience amidst tragedy.
Content Warning
These stories contain descriptions of traumatic events including violence, loss, and grief. Reader discretion is advised.
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The Voice That Guided Us to Safety
"I was driving toward the Nova Festival when we began receiving alerts. At first, I thought it was rockets and we should pull over. Then I saw vehicles racing in the opposite direction, people screaming. I turned around and joined a convoy of cars. A military officer standing in the road waved us through a back route I didn't know existed. For four hours, I drove with strangers from my rearview mirror, following his directions. That voice on the phone saved dozens of lives. I later learned he was killed minutes after our call ended."
We heard the terrorists outside our door, trying to break in. My husband held it closed while I kept the children silent under the bed. Every few minutes, they would return and try again. This continued for hours.
Escape from Nova
Nova FestivalOctober 15, 2023
FestivalRescue
We ran between cars for cover. A stranger pulled me into his vehicle as bullets hit the side. Seven of us crammed inside, people I'd never met but who became like family in those terrifying moments.
Protecting My Students
Kfar AzaOctober 20, 2023
TeacherChildren
As a kindergarten teacher, my first thought was for my students. I called each family, ensuring they were in safe rooms. When I couldn't reach the Avraham family, I stayed on the line with their five-year-old until help arrived.
Documentary: Voices of October 7th
This 25-minute documentary brings together testimonies from survivors, first responders, and community members who experienced the events of October 7th firsthand.
Produced in partnership with the Testimonies Project and with the consent of all participants. This documentary aims to preserve firsthand accounts for historical record and educational purposes.
We worked for 36 hours straight. Every time we thought we'd seen the worst, another call would come in. The hardest moment was finding a childhood friend among the wounded—suddenly the professional distance disappeared.
Searching Through the Night
Be'eriOctober 11, 2023
Search & RescueMilitary
We moved house to house with night vision, never knowing what we'd find. The silence was deafening. When we found survivors in a hidden safe room after 20 hours, their first question was about their neighbors, not themselves.
The Hospital That Wouldn't Break
Soroka Medical CenterOctober 14, 2023
DoctorHospital
Our trauma ward was designed for 20 patients. That day, we treated over 200. Staff who weren't on call came running in without being summoned. Surgeons operated in hallways. We had retired doctors in their 70s working alongside interns.
We turned my restaurant into a relief kitchen overnight. By morning, 50 strangers were cooking alongside my staff. We prepared 3,000 meals daily for evacuees and soldiers. Suppliers donated food without being asked.
A Home for the Displaced
JerusalemOctober 18, 2023
HousingSupport
We hosted three families from Be'eri in our three-bedroom apartment. Fifteen people sharing one bathroom, yet no one complained. When they arrived with nothing but the clothes they wore, our neighborhood collected everything they needed within hours.
The Children's Art Therapy Project
Multiple LocationsOctober 25, 2023
HealingChildren
We created mobile art therapy stations that traveled to evacuation centers. The children's drawings told stories they couldn't express in words. One eight-year-old boy hadn't spoken since October 7th, but through his paintings, he began to communicate again.
Share Your Story
If you experienced the events of October 7th firsthand or were directly affected, we invite you to contribute your testimony to this growing archive of personal accounts. Your story matters and helps create a complete historical record of this day.
These stories are more than memories—they are vital historical documents that ensure the events of October 7th are preserved accurately for future generations. Each account adds dimension to our understanding of what happened that day and in its aftermath.
These testimonies also reveal the extraordinary capacity for human courage, compassion, and resilience. Amid unthinkable circumstances, we see countless examples of people protecting one another, helping strangers, and finding strength to rebuild.
As this archive continues to grow, it serves as both memorial and testament—honoring those lost while ensuring their stories, and the stories of those who survived, are never forgotten.