Israelis gathered across the country Monday night to watch the civilian October 7 memorial ceremony, which organizers say was broadcast at over 300 community viewings around the country.
Wrecks of burned cars adorned the stage, and the names of the fallen scrolled across the backdrop as some of Israel's biggest artists performed at the ceremony, some visibly upset and struggling to control thier emotions.
Families of those slain and of hostages, as well as those who experienced the horrors of the day shared memories of their families and stories from October 7.
Israelis at a packed viewing of the ceremony at Jerusalem's Paris Square, one of three in the city, sang along, some breaking down as the stories of Israelis killed on October 7 were shared.
The ceremony included artists, participants, and the stories of Israelis from across the spectrum of Israel's various populations. The tragedy of October 7 and the Hamas terrorists did not distinguish based on religion, ethnicity, gender or political orientation, the MCs stressed.
Rabbi Shmuel Slotky, who lost two sons on October 7 when they were killed fighting in the South and went on to serve in reserves himself, read a Yizkor prayer at the opening of the ceremony, praying for the fallen and for the return of the hostages.
Rabbi Tamir Granot who lost his son Capt. Amitay Zvi Granot, a commander in the 7th Armored Brigade who was killed near the Lebanon border in October 2023, followed the memorial prayer with Kadish.
Yigal, the father of slain observer Hadar Cohen, spoke at the ceremony, before releasing 16 balloons in honor of the observers, and calling for the release of the observers still held hostage by Hamas.
"She always took care of everyone before herself, and at the end was abandoned to her death," he said.
"I don't know how to get up from my own personal destruction," he said, saying he still cant fathom that this tragedy is related to him and adding that he knows "we must."
"The blood of our girls is crying out to us from the earth," he said, adding that they will make sure that those responsible take responsibility.
The mother of Tal Shoham, held captive in Gaza since October 7, shared on stage the questions his young children ask in their father's absence "when will dad come back? Will he be very old when he comes back?"
She called to bring hostages home, saying there would be no rebirth without them, as the audience exploded into applause.
She also addressed her son, "my Taltaloni, if you hear or see me, we all miss you so much and are doing everything to bring you and all the hostages back. We are not giving up on you and on all the hostages," she said as the audience once again broke into applause.
Yuval Sharvit, whose husband was killed as the two were driving in the South on October 7, described her experience in a video showed at the ceremony.
She touched on the many difficult things she was exposed to on that day, hiding in the car next to her slain husband, after covering herself in his blood to pretend that she was dead.
Kidnaping and rape were among the things she was exposed to that day she said. "I never heard cries for help like I heard from that woman," she said.
Family members of the Kapeshtar family shared the harrowing story of finding out the fate of their loved ones in a video showed at the ceremony.
Nothing was known about the fate of Dina, Evgeny, Ethan and Aline Kapshetar, who were camping near Ashkelon, until October 12 when the family said officials began knocking on their door.
On the 12th they are told Dina was found dead, on the 13th they were told Evgeny was founddead, on the 15th, five-year- old Eitan, and on the 18th authorities informed them that 8-year-old Aline was found dead.
Their family prayed the family's murder had been fast and not left them frightened. "On Friday they were there and on Saturday the whole family was wiped out."
"We will go back to visit the Darom Adom festival and to pick cherries in the North," Israeli singer Rita said, opening her performance of the song "Waiting."
"The day we bring everyone back we will feel that warm hug," she added.
A video of the younger brother of Carmel Gat, who was killed in captivity after surviving for nearly 11 months, and son of Kinneret Gat, killed on the 7th, was screened.
"It should not have happened," he said.
"Carmel made a change, she reached so many prior and is still reaching so many people," he added.
"Mom and Carmel, no matter where they are, are definitely together," he said, adding that seeing the people who survived and made it back brings him comfort.
Revital Markovici, whose husband police officer Arthur Markovici was killed defending civilians on October 7 expressed her pride as she heard more and more stories of his heroism and those he saved.
Knowing that as he fell, he allowed others to rise, filled her with pride, she said in a video segment.
"Love and a person like Arthur is something you don't find. It was special and it was ours," she added.
Yonatan Shamriz, one of the organizers of the ceremony whose brother was killed by IDF forces in Gazs after escaping Hamas captors, emphasized the abandonment many Israelis feel.
Shamriz, the founder of the Kumu (stand up) organization for Israelis in the North and South, stressed that there should have been thousands gathered at the ceremony rather jusr a small crowd sheltering from rockets due to the security situation, adding that there should be a state enquiry into the events leading up to October 7.
"There is no personal example, no vision, no taking responsibility," he said.
He recounted the story of his brother, saying that "in his death, Alon showed us the path and the hope."
A new generation is rising in Israel that believes in a united and reformed society, and will rebuild the country better than it was, he stressed.
"Kumu! Am yisrael chai."
The ceremony concluded with a prayer for the return of the hostages and the singing of Hatikva.
A civilian effort
The ceremony, organized by bereaved families and civilian organizers and funded through crowdfunding which raised NIS three million, featured prominent Israeli artists.
The ceremony was intended to be open to public attendance, and organizers say that 40,000 tickets were sold in the first few hours after ticket sales opened, but the security situation in the country forced organizers to drastically cut the number of attendees, prompting community screenings, which were widely attended around the country.
Organizers also wanted to hold the ceremony in Israel's south, the site of the horrific Hamas attacks last year, but ultimately moved the ceremony to the center following huge demand to attend, they said.
The ceremony, created by the public and planned to be open to the public, is a strong symbolic counter to the state ceremony which will take place directly following it. Many Israeli citizens feel that the state was absent on October 7 and in its aftermath, leaving civilians to deal with the horrors on their own.
The year since October 7 has seen incredible efforts of civilian organization, including civilian logistics and supply centers, civilian housing and transportation for evacuees and soldiers, the Hostage Family Forum, and many more incredible civilian projects that many feel replaced the Israeli government when it failed to care for citizens.