Eli Sharabi to host the ceremony at Yarkon Park on October 7: "We must not blur the memory"
Hostage survivor and bereaved family member Eli Sharabi will host the national memorial ceremony in Tel Aviv alongside actress Shani Cohen. The families have called on the public to support the event's funding, emphasizing their commitment to a unifying, all-Israeli commemoration.
The "Kumu" movement of the families of the October 7 massacre victims announced on Sunday the selection of hostage survivor Eli Sharabi to host the national memorial ceremony, together with actress and comedian Shani Cohen. This is the third consecutive year the ceremony will be held, scheduled for October 7 at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv, with the participation of bereaved families and survivors.
Organizers stated that the ceremony will be broadcast on major media channels in Israel, on foreign networks, and at community screenings worldwide. The families emphasize their commitment to a state, unifying, and all-Israeli ceremony that gives a voice to all segments of the population affected by the disaster. They have also called on the public to support the crowdfunding campaign established to fund the event.
Sharabi, who lost his wife and daughters in Be'eri, as well as his brother in captivity, stated:
"I am fulfilling what I promised my wife Lian, my daughters Noya and Yahel, and my brother Yossi, of blessed memory – that they and what happened to them and to us will never be forgotten. October 7 must remain etched in our hearts as an iron date forever. It must not be blurred, and time must not be allowed to make us forget. This terrible day must not pass without a national, central, and significant ceremony. The pain still touches us everywhere, and I know that this will be a charged and difficult occasion, but I will stand with all the strength and love I receive from you to pay tribute to the murdered and the fallen, the bereaved families, and the entire people of Israel."
Omri Shafroni, who lost four relatives in Kibbutz Be'eri, including 12-year-old Liel Hatsroni, added:
"The national memorial ceremony expresses the deep pain of us all and the responsibility and shared hope for the State of Israel. I am very moved by the hosts chosen: Eli Sharabi, whom I knew from Be'eri, chose life after the worst of all, and the talented Shani Cohen, who for me is a symbol of Israeli identity. I have no doubt that they are the most suitable to lead the ceremony that will tell our story, the families', and that of all Israeli society."
Shani Cohen stated:
"October 7 is a significant event in all our lives. I have accompanied many families in their pain of loss from then until today, and I am proud to host the ceremony alongside a person who chose life despite everything he went through. It is something that moves me very much: our strength to overcome despite the terrible difficulty and to strengthen others along the way."
