The Heroes of October 7th: Heroic Stories for Children by Hadassa Ben Ari

Buy this book at Amazon

The Heroes of October 7th is a project that emerged immediately after the horrific attacks in Israel on Shabbat Simchat Torah, October 7th, 2023. This collection of stories shines light on the indomitable physical and emotional strength amongst Israelis – individuals from all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities – who used their own skills and talents to help and inspire others on that day and ever since.

This colorful, fully-illustrated book includes short portraits that are written in child-friendly language that was overseen by a team of child psychologists. They are meant to be read together with a grown-up and aim to show the values of humanity, kindness and giving that we all aspire to as a society.

Readers will meet the chess player-turned-commander who strategically led his unit to safety; the rescue teams who treated the wounded under fire, saving thousands of lives; the 85-year-old Ninja Granny who survived captivity; the dedicated school principal who sent inspiring messages to his students on his break from combat; the teenage social media influencer who began to use her platform to show the world what was really happening in Israel; and many other average-yet remarkable Israeli citizens.

Each story shows the generous spirit and remarkable resilience of the Israeli people; those who managed to act heroically when the nation needed it most.

Read these stories aloud, grab a tissue, and enjoy a strong dose of Israeli pride.

Year first published: 2024