If a script depicting scenes reminiscent of the October 7 Hamas attack had been presented to television producers, they likely would have rejected it outright. Yet the past year and a half have proven that reality surpasses any imagination, and now the internationally acclaimed Israeli series "Fauda" is filming its new season based on these very events.

Residents of Israel's Eshkol Regional Council, who experienced unimaginable horror on that Saturday and continue to deal with its aftermath, will soon witness film crews recreating scenes reminiscent of their trauma. The series, which has seemingly predicted numerous real events, is currently filming a new season focused specifically on the October 7 Hamas attacks. Producer Liat Benasuly confirmed to Israel Hayom, "Yes, it's Fauda and it's part of our way to tell the world what happened there."

According to production notices, the filming will involve simulated security incidents, including actors in military and police uniforms, individuals dressed as terrorists, police vehicles, and pickup trucks in areas directly affected by the actual attacks.

Despite the series' significance during a time when Israeli public diplomacy faces challenges, many local residents view the filming negatively. For them, it reopens trauma and serves as a painful trigger for experiences they're desperately trying to forget or at least suppress.

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While the Israeli delegation at Eurovision faces threats and verbal abuse, Canada is showing support and solidarity through a special and particularly moving audiovisual performance. The first-of-its-kind event was held Sunday night in Toronto, featuring a drone display above the Nova 06:29 exhibit created and directed by Reut Feingold in collaboration with Nova producer Omri Sassi, commemorating those murdered at the Nova music festival.

Video: A drone show commemorating the victims of the Nova Music Festival in Toronto, Canada. Credit: Illumin Drone Shows & First Class Drones

The powerful display of solidarity with Israel illuminated the Toronto skyline with 411 drones, each one commemorating a life lost in the Nova music festival attack. The drones created a moving audiovisual narrative portraying the stories of those murdered on October 7, 2023, bringing a message of remembrance to a city that has recently become known for conflict and numerous anti-Israeli demonstrations.

The spectacular aerial show delivered an unmistakable message of remembrance and resistance against the denial of the massacre. This Toronto event represents another milestone in the installation's international journey, which has already made appearances in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Tel Aviv, and Buenos Aires.

The memorial has been receiving global acclaim as one of the most emotionally powerful commemorative exhibits of our time, continuing its mission to honor the victims and ensure their stories are not forgotten.

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The "We Will Dance Again" annual memorial concert organized by the Nova community is set to take place on June 26 at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park. The event aims to commemorate through music and raise awareness for the urgent need to support a community now composed of bereaved families, survivors, and those who have been released from captivity.

Last year, the Nova tribe community held their emotional musical tribute before an audience of 30,000 people. This Tuesday morning, organizers announced the upcoming memorial concert, which will honor victims from the Nova, Mushroom, Psyduck, and Midburn events, raise rehabilitation funds for party survivors and families of those murdered, and amplify calls for the return of the remaining hostages.

The concert will feature artists performing unique electronic covers of familiar songs alongside powerful trance segments from the Nova artists' repertoire. The program includes one-time musical collaborations designed to convey messages of commemoration, strength, and hope.

During her address at today's media presentation, former hostage Mia Shem shared her abduction experience and made a direct appeal to President Donald Trump: "Thank you for everything you're doing to release the hostages. I invite you to dance with us in Yarkon Park, and celebrate the moment when everyone finally returns home."

Artists and suppliers for the event have offered preferred pricing with discounts that reflect the event's humanitarian purpose. All profits from ticket sales and sponsorships will benefit the Nova Tribe Community Association, which provides support, assistance, and rehabilitation services to bereaved families and survivors while working to commemorate those lost in the tragedy.

Omri Sassi will manage the musical content for the concert. As a partner and producer of the Nova Festival, Sassi lost three family members during the Oct. 7 massacre. As part of his healing process, he and his partners created the "6:29" exhibit and are now producing the Nova concert in Yarkon Park for the second consecutive year.

"We are a community connected through music and social values," Sassi explained, "which is why we're continuing this tradition with a musical memorial event. At the concert, we will honor those who were murdered, recognize the survivors, and raise the crucial support needed to provide assistance, treatment, and help in returning them to some semblance of normal life, as much as possible."

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Since the outbreak of the Iron Swords war, Amsterdam has emerged as one of the cities where antisemitism has manifested itself most visibly. Now another incident joins this troubling pattern, this time targeting Israeli cultural figures, who have increasingly found themselves unwelcome overseas in the past year.

On Saturday, Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder was scheduled to perform two pre-arranged shows at the "Boom Chicago" venue in Amsterdam. However, the performances were canceled after several antisemitic organizations sent threatening emails to the club management and launched a social media campaign calling for the cancellation of the "ultra-Zionist" artist. The club announced that "due to the climate in Amsterdam and the responses received, we cannot hold the planned shows on January 25."

Sponder shared the incident with his Instagram followers, expressing his surprise at the decision. He noted that immediately after learning of the cancellation, he received an overwhelming wave of support from the Dutch community.

Speaking to Israel Hayom, Sponder and his team discussed their profound disappointment while emphasizing their resolve to continue performing worldwide, refusing to bow to political pressure. "We planned a European tour that began last Wednesday in London, and we were scheduled to perform two shows in Amsterdam on Saturday night. The first show was sold out and the second was close to selling out.

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"Two weeks before, they contacted us about someone who had come to the club, shouting and expressing outrage about a Jewish performer being scheduled to appear. The club management assured us everything was fine, merely suggesting we consider hiring security services. We understood the situation and immediately agreed to the proposal. Subsequently, we held a Zoom meeting with the club's management. They informed us they had received emails and believed this was an organized effort, rather than an isolated individual. A week and a day before the scheduled performance, we received an email stating that due to the atmosphere in the city and after consulting with the police, they had decided to cancel the shows.

"During our conversation with the club owner, he suggested we might be better off finding a 'Jewish venue' and offered to help. They refunded all ticket purchases, and we later discovered they had never actually consulted with the police – we contacted law enforcement ourselves and they had no knowledge of any such incident. Furthermore, we spoke with the mayor, who was equally unaware. She could have assisted with additional police presence, but since it's a private venue, they couldn't be compelled to host the event.

"The Amsterdam community has been incredible, with numerous people reaching out to offer assistance. However, some opportunists attempted to exploit the situation, telling people there was an alternative venue and tickets were available. A fake Instagram page was created, which we've reported to the police."

When asked about compensation for the cancellation, Sponder Sponder explained they received none. "We're proceeding with our next destinations – Frankfurt, Berlin, Brussels, Paris – and naturally working to secure a new date in Amsterdam, hopefully soon. Since the cancellation, an amazing group has been trying to help us find another venue, though they've received negative responses from several locations. The antisemitic basis for these refusals is obvious. We won't give up – there will be a show in Amsterdam, even if we have to erect a tent. Currently, no venue is willing to host an Israeli comedian who simply wants to bring joy to people. A comedian, not a politician or military figure."

When asked about how this treatment feels, Sponder responded, "It's both insulting and shocking because this is where it begins. It may seem like just a show, just comedy, but it's glaringly obvious that it's solely because of the comedian's identity. The show is called 'Self Loving Jew' and discusses why we should love ourselves and take pride in our identity as Jews and Israelis. Freedom of expression must be upheld even in the face of disagreement. In April, a Palestinian comedian named Sami Obeid is scheduled to perform at the same club, with material centered entirely on criticizing Israel. That's freedom of expression. As long as he's not inciting hatred, he can perform – but it's unacceptable that he can while we cannot."

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Israel's leading photojournalism contest unveiled its winners Tuesday at Tel Aviv's Eretz Israel Museum. The exhibition features 170 powerful works – including 124 photographs and multiple video installations – selected from over 8,600 submissions by the museum's curator.

Chen G. Schimmel's haunting image of a volunteer cleaning bloodstains in a Be'eri home where an elderly resident was murdered on Oct. 7 earned Photo of the Year.

Series of the Year went to Ziv Koren of Yedioth Ahronoth for documenting the Golan family's journey – from the moment parents Ariel and Ellay shielded their baby Yael from a Hamas-thrown gas bomb in Kfar Aza, through their ongoing recovery at Sheba Medical Center.

Video honors went to Shelly Shalev for her hopeful portrayal of mental illness.

Reuters photographer Amir Cohen captured the emotional homecoming of freed hostage Aviva Siegel after 50 days in captivity. Her husband, Keith, remains held in Gaza.

Other winning shots include Haaretz photographer Moti Milrod's documentation of Hamas terrorists in Gaza's Shuja'iyya neighborhood, Israel Hayom's Yehoshua Yosef's coverage of religious protests at a Tel Aviv high school, and Michael Giladi's dramatic capture of horses fleeing rocket-sparked fires in the Golan Heights.

The collection, representing work from 69 photographers, provides a powerful visual record of a year that reshaped Israeli society.

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In a move to bridge cultural divides and foster understanding, Israeli actress Mai Tzuriely is set to embark on a unique theatrical journey to Germany. Her mission: to perform "Ma Achshav?" ("What Now?"), a gripping play that emerged from the crucible of one of the darkest days of Israeli history. The production, penned by Roee Lahav Feinmesser amidst the chaos of his reserve duty call-up following the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught, promises to offer German youth a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the Israeli psyche during times of crisis.

The play, which premiered two months into the war, centers on two high school students trapped in a shelter during a missile barrage. Their confinement becomes a backdrop for exploring how young people cope with sudden, drastic changes in their world. Directed by Alon Getzovich and featuring Tzuriely alongside Liron Noah, the Mishkafayim Theater production faces the challenge of translating complex local experiences for an international audience.

For Tzuriely, the performance carries personal weight. Her husband Assaf's family in Kibbutz Re'im lived through the Oct. 7 attack. "I'm married to Assaf, who was born and raised in Kibbutz Re'im. His parents and sisters still live there, and for me, it's another home," Tzuriely explained. She recounted the tense hours as family members sheltered in safe rooms, some facing direct threats.

"On the morning of Oct. 7, although we were in Tel Aviv, our entire family in the kibbutz entered their safe rooms, each in their own home, and we felt as if we were with them," she said. "His older sister was with us in Tel Aviv while her husband, a member of the local security team, was in the kibbutz with their children. He himself neutralized a terrorist who tried to break into their home. His younger sister remained in the safe room without electricity for 22 hours, and we only had contact with his parents when they opened the safe room door due to poor reception. When we realized the extent of the damage to the kibbutz, which houses were burned, and where the terrorists had been, we grasped how fortunate our family was to have survived this terrible event," Tzuriely recounted.

The actress hopes her connection to events will add depth to the performance, but acknowledges the difficulties in conveying such experiences to a foreign audience. The production includes post-performance discussions, aiming to provide context often missing from international news coverage.

When asked about the significance of performing for non-Jewish youth in Leipzig, Tzuriely emphasized, "We're going to perform for young people in various schools in Leipzig, Germany. It's an important trip precisely because we're dealing with non-Jewish youth who have no connection to Israel or Judaism."

Reflecting on the play's potential impact, Tzuriely elaborated, "The play illustrates the inconceivable situation we've been living in for almost a year, not to mention past wars and operations. Its strength lies in speaking from the perspective of the youth living here, who are facing conscription, dealing with the same fears adults have but don't always know how to express. Our ability to convey to youth in foreign countries the same feelings every Israeli knows can raise awareness, empathy, and hopefully, a true understanding that in the end, we all want to live our lives in peace and without fear."

Addressing theater's role in public diplomacy, Tzuriely expressed measured optimism. "I believe the play has genuine explanatory power because it provides an authentic perspective of people in times of crisis and war, and a basic desire for security," she said. "It touches on difficult questions that will hopefully prompt the audience to seek answers rather than continue to be influenced by social media trends."

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Since Oct. 7, Michael Rapaport has become one of Hollywood's most outspoken advocates for Israel.

The Jewish-American actor and comedian joined hundreds of industry colleagues in signing an open letter to President Joe Biden, urging the immediate release of hostages. Rapaport's solidarity visit to Israel included meetings with hostages' families, social media campaigns, and international interviews to promote their release. His itinerary also featured a tour of Kibbutz Be'eri and an appearance on the popular Israeli satire show "Eretz Nehederet," where he participated in a sketch portraying an Oscars host delivering a critical monologue about Hollywood figures.

Rapaport's collaborations with "Eretz Nehederet" have amassed tens of millions of views globally. He recorded several episodes of his podcast "I Am Rapaport" in Tel Aviv, and his vigorous social media presence has reached audiences worldwide. Now, Rapaport is preparing for his first full-length stand-up performances in Israel. The shows are scheduled for Oct. 13, at the Jerusalem Theater and Oct. 14, at Beit Hachayal, Tel Aviv.

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A new exhibition displaying the personal items of children murdered in the Holocaust opened Sunday at the Supreme Court. The installation, named "Yellow Patch," serves as a heartbreaking memorial to the young lives tragically cut short during the Nazi genocide.

The exhibits on display were retained from the Theresienstadt Ghetto in former Czechoslovakia. Established by Nazis in 1941, Theresienstadt held prisoners temporarily before they were deported to death camps in the east. In a cynical propaganda effort, the Nazis attempted for a time to present Theresienstadt as a "model ghetto", allowing inmates some privileges like education and cultural activities.

This allowed children interned in the ghetto to create artwork, write letters, and hold onto personal mementos before the vast majority were eventually sent to be killed at camps like Auschwitz. Only a few survived the Holocaust.

The installation features drawings, journals, handwritten notes and cards, games, and other belongings. Some items were found after Theresienstadt's liberation in 1945, while others were donated by survivors, some of whom later immigrated to Israel. These items now serve as one of the few remaining testaments to the 1.5 million children killed in the Holocaust.

"While only a small number of these children's personal effects remain, they are invaluable witnesses to the systematic genocide perpetrated by the Nazis," Supreme Court President Esther Hayut said. "This exhibit ensures we can confront anew the unconscionable tragedy of the Holocaust."

The installation will be on public display at the Supreme Court through August 2024.

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Music has become in recent months the national healer: comforting, embracing, unifying songs that capture our pain, difficulties, and yearnings to return to good and quiet days.

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Singers perform tirelessly for evacuees, wounded, and soldiers, new songs have been released, and there is also the longing and nostalgia, the clinging to what was, and the hope for better days.

That is how the new production "Songs of the Military Bands 2024" came about. This show will try to take us back to the days of innocence, to heal broken hearts and wounded souls. The production features young creators and performers, some of them the next generation of veteran artists: Anat and Tamir Hitman (Uzi's niece and nephew), Manor Shabat(Shlomi Shabat's daughter), and musician Ziv Rubinstein.

"October 7 put us in a surreal reality when you realize the country had transformed and nothing will ever be the same, I looked for a way to get back to the purity, innocence, and goodness that was here once, out of the private and collective grief, sadness and loss of us all," Nili Peterson, producer, and creator of the show, told Israel Hayom. "We chose songs that on the one hand reflect the existing reality and sadness alongside songs that have been played in every home. The show debut this week and is set to tour the country."

Ziv: "Since October 7 I find myself humming the songs of the army bands. Something in the Israeliness and difficult state we're in finds comfort in these cultural heritage gems of quintessential Israeli music. From there to the show was a short road."

Anat: "As an army band alumni, I feel a sense of mission and a need to revisit what makes Israel special. Beyond the nostalgia, these songs create longing and yearning for what we love here in our beautiful land."

Tamir: "This show provides comfort and renewed strength in a time when each of us is looking for a way out of the complex reality. The music and connection between the band members gives the audience moments to catch their breath."

Manor: "I remember as a child being glued to the radio when army band songs were on. To be part of a show like this is the most patriotic thing one can do in such a time."

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Last week, Shani Louk was supposed to celebrate her 23rd birthday. But instead of throwing a party for a young woman who loved life, art, and music, her family organized an exhibition in her memory four months later Shani was brutally killed and then paraded by Hamas terrorists in Gaza on Oct. 7. 

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Shani was killed at the Nova music festival, her boyfriend was taken hostage and remains in Gaza, and their friend, Keshet Casarotti, 21, was also killed. 

The Louk family decided to show the world the poetic soul that Shani had, the drawing talent of the tattoo artist whose entire life was ahead of her, in an exhibition called "Forever young Forever art" that launched at the Gutman Museum and was curated, among others, but Shani's aunt, Rinat. 

Footage of Shani being paraded around Gaza at the back of a van filled with Hamas terrorists, unclear if dead or alive, was one of the firsts to emerge on that dark morning on Oct. 7. After three long weeks, the family was informed that Shani had indeed been killed. 

Through the exhibition, the family chose to commemorate Shani, who loved art from a young age, taught herself how to sew and design her own clothes, and enjoyed painting, sculpting, and poetry. In recent years, she opened a studio for artistic tattoos in her unique style, drawing inspiration from geometry and Japanese art, whose symbols she used in tattooing.

Shani's mother, Ricarda (Rikki), 53, a German citizen, moved to Israel after falling in love with Nissim, Shani's father. The two had four children: Adi, 25, Shani, Amit, 20, and Or, 14.

The two met in Thailand, Rikki converted to Judaism, and they built a home in Srigim. Rikki works at Intel and Nissim in real estate. 

Shortly before the launch of the exhibition, we meet at the museum whose falls are filled with Shani's drawings. With a smile, Rikki tells about her daughter, who never dreamed of exhibiting in a gallery or museum, but would surely be happy if she saw an exhibition of her art.

"Shani always loved to draw, she was a very creative child, already at a young age she went to a sewing and design course and loved to sew her clothes," Rikki said. "She went to fashion exhibitions, and in her youth was drawn to tattoos. She always wanted to get a tattoo, but relative to a tattooist she had few, because we in the family are not big fans, and my husband is traditional, so it was postponed until Shani turned 18, and then she thought about what she wanted to do.

"In the end, she tattooed herself a little on her legs and hands, in the places she could do it herself, mall things, and about a year ago she went to someone else who tattooed something bigger under her knees, a geometric drawing. She planned to get a big tattoo on her back. I have a picture of what she planned to get, also something geometric because she was very attracted to geometric shapes.

"She loved Tel Aviv and moved into an apartment with roommates. Then she started learning to tattoo with a professional tattooist, took a few lessons, started to develop it, and opened a studio in her apartment. She had a neat corner with a tattoo stand, and she started to advertise herself and in the process worked in all kinds of other work. In addition to tattoos, she always liked to draw. She would sit with me at the table and draw while talking, she didn't want to make big paintings, she didn't dream of publishing them. She realized that it was difficult to make a living from art, so she went in the direction of tattoos. That way she could design and paint while also earning a living."

Q: And now her artwork is being exhibited at a museum. What do you think she would say if she knew? 

"She attended a high school for the arts for a year and a half, where they had painting, writing, and theater lessons, but that was not her dream. Specifically, I don't think she intended to be a painter, but I'm sure she would have loved the exhibition. She wanted to be famous, to model, to be successful with tattoos, to design things. She always dreamed of something big, and wanted people to know who she was."

Q: The entire world came to know Shani, under tragic circumstances. Do you feel that perhaps through the exhibition you are leaving Shani's mark on the world? Showcasing her talent?

"Yes, it's about showing the world what she left us. Not every 22-year-old girl leaves behind many things that can be shown, and she left behind so much, her beautiful paintings are full of depth, and I wanted to show the world what beautiful things she did."

Most of the work Shani left behind was discovered by her mother when she came to clear out her belongings from the apartment in Tel Aviv, a painful and difficult moment in which Rikki was exposed to another part of her daughter's life.

"It was difficult. Right after the shiva [mourning period], my husband didn't want to come, so I took all the children and we went to the apartment in Tel Aviv. I thought maybe the children would want to keep something of Shani's to remember her. For myself, I took jewelry and paintings. There were notebooks that I later looked at. There were few texts, very little poetry, but a lot of drawings, small and large. I collected them all in one binder and saw that they accumulated into an impressive amount of beautiful things. So I came up with the idea of making an exhibition because I felt it was so beautiful that it would be a shame not to show it to the world.

"About a month ago we talked about the fact that Feb. 7 is Shani's birthday. I didn't want to have a sad celebration at home with family and friends, and I thought that maybe we could do something with these paintings, and showcase them somewhere. My sister-in-law, Rinat, who is an artist, got excited about the idea, she started to inquire and found the Nahum Gutman Museum. They asked to see the paintings first, and after they liked the pictures, we agreed that the opening would be on Feb. 7 and we would invite friends and family."

Q: Feb. 7 was, in essence, not just Shani's birthday but the 4-month anniversary of that dark day. Can you share with us what you went through on Oct. 7? 

"The evening before we spoke with Shani, who was with us in the beginning of the holiday after returning from Greece. Her boyfriend, Orion, had just returned from Mexico. They had been together for eight months. He lives in Europe and travels the world, organizing festivals. They traveled a lot together, all summer they were at music festivals in Europe. He is still captive. We have never met him, because she always traveled with him abroad, and I said to her on the holiday, 'Maybe you guys can come over for dinner?' She hesitated and said that their friends were playing and they were going to see them, but that next week they would visit together.

"Attending the Nova festival was not planned. It was a spontaneous decision. Other friends of theirs came from South America and they decided to go there. At 6:30 in the morning, when we had a rocket siren, I realized that something was wrong. All the other children were with us and I said to my eldest daughter, 'Call Shani, ask if she's going to the shelter'. I didn't know she was still at the party. Shani answered the phone and said that they were leaving the party, taking the car, and going to a safe place. That was the last thing we heard from her.

"At first we weren't too worried, we thought they would get out of there and find a shelter, but after an hour Shani didn't pick up the phone, we texted her on WhatsApp as well and didn't get an answer, and a little after 10 o'clock we came across the horrible video of her in the back of a van in the streets of Gaza. We immediately recognized her because of the tattoos and dreadlocks. It was unclear from the video whether she was dead or injured, she was lying face down, half-naked, surrounded by Hamas terrorists, a terrible video that her ex sent to my son, who immediately burst into tears and shouted 'It's Shani.

"I immediately cried and we all screamed, it was crazy to see it. We realized that they were driving through the streets of Gaza and everyone around was rejoicing and celebrating, we didn't know if she was alive or not, we hoped she was alive. There was chaos all over the country, the police didn't answer us. More videos started appearing, and because Shani has German citizenship, and she has a German passport like me, we called the German embassy and showed them the video. They gave us a contact.

"In the afternoon we saw that someone tried to withdraw money using her credit card in Gaza. I received a message on my phone and I sent a video to Germany asking them to help us, that our daughter had been kidnapped. It was one of the first videos distributed that Saturday and was published not only in Germany but throughout Europe.

"The next day, still no one had contacted us. We were under the same pressure, we didn't know anything, and we started being interviewed, mainly abroad, on all channels. We emphasized the fact that she is German, we wanted to put pressure on Europe. At one point we received a sign of life, which we didn't know whether it was true, from someone who went to look for her in hospitals. He told us that she was in a Hamas hospital, seriously injured in the head. We hoped it was true, that it was some sign of life.

"This hope lasted for three weeks, during which we continued to be interviewed. I went to Berlin, I met with politicians, with the chancellor, the foreign minister, the heads of all parties, and a lot of journalists. They were very emotional and showed solidarity toward Israel and toward us. They said that negotiation processes were starting, they went to Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, but it didn't change much, and after three weeks they came to us from the IDF and told us that they found a piece of her skull, without which it is impossible to live. They found it in Israel, which means that when they transported her in a car she was already dead."

Q: Heartbreaking. How did you cope? 

"I admit that after the three weeks that we had, there was some relief because those were three terrible weeks, in which I was constantly thinking about what could be done to help her. On the other hand, I was constantly imagining what she must be going through. I hear crazy booms at night because here we hear everything, and I keep imagining where she is. Is she in a tunnel? Is she in a hospital? What condition is she in? I'm constantly worrying about her, and suddenly when they told us there was something in it that said – the nightmare is over, and we were comforted by the fact that she died in the beginning, that she didn't suffer much."

Q: There were also reports of sexual abuse of women. Surely you must have thought of that too. 

"Sure, I kept thinking about it, and I keep thinking about the young women who are still there, for so long, that I don't know how they will come back, in what condition. It's hard to imagine. I hope they didn't hurt Shani because she died early, her video went up really early. We know they left the party early, she was driving with Orion and another friend, Keshet, who sat in the back. They drove 15 kilometers to Mefalsim, where they got stuck with other cars.

"There was probably an accident because a few minutes before 7 a.m. they called Magen David Adom. That call was recorded, in it Keshet asks them to come, says that his friend, Shani, is injured but conscious, and that there are a lot of damaged cars. A few minutes after 7 he called again and asked where they were and why they didn't come. Then we found out from Keshet's family that he was also injured, and at some point caught a ride and continued to another intersection, where he was killed. Orion stayed with Shani, in Mefalsim, which is really close to the Gaza border, and that's where they kidnapped them both."

Q: You learned that your daughter was killed, but her body is still in Gaza. You said in earlier interviews not to endanger the lives of soldiers to return Shani's body. Do you still feel that way? 

"Yes. We said we would wait a year. If there is no body by Oct. 7 of this year, we will build a grave with the findings that are here, because as far as we are concerned, she is gone, and the body will not bring her back. Shani is in heaven. If there is a body and it is possible to bury it, we will bury it. If there is not, then not. We will build a tombstone and a grave and we will be able to visit it, and it will be fine. The body is something that is meaningless to us, and I don't want to risk the life of any soldier for a body."

Q: Does your husband, who you said is traditional, feel the same? How does he reconcile this with the religious importance of burial?

"He is of the same opinion. Even in religion, life takes precedence, and if it endangers life, it is not justified. We are doing our best to return the body, I know we are, but we are not ready for it to be at the expense of someone else's life."

As part of diplomacy efforts in the world and her travels abroad amid the inferno of the last few months, Rikki returned about a week ago from New York, where a Torah scroll was dedicated in Shani's memory.

"My husband and I went to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a very well-known rabbi and media person in the US, who connected with Shani's story. He has been in touch with us all these past months. He has sons fighting in Gaza, and he interviewed us several times and decided that he was making a Torah scroll for his mother who passed away a year ago, and that he wanted to add a second name to the scroll. He invited us to the ceremony. It was a very big event, many Jews from New York attended, including members of the Kennedy family.

"In addition, I met leaders in Israel who came from Germany. We are in contact with the ambassador all the time, and I have also been on two trips to Germany as part of hasbarah."

Q: Do you feel that the fact that Shani held German citizenship helped your efforts? 

"In Germany, Shani is really famous, she was in every possible newspaper. They all interviewed me, and journalists from Germany came specially for the exhibition. Her story was one of the first stories that came out that Saturday, and because of the shocking video her story touched many people, and for three weeks everyone hoped along with us. When we were at the event in New York, everyone knew her story and hugged us, it mainly made a lot of noise in the world. My husband is now in Denver and New York, as part of a delegation of the Jewish Agency. They continue to the United Nations as part of the outreach in the world."

Q: Are you in touch with the family of Shani's boyfriend, Orian? 

"His parents are divorced. His mother is in France and his father is in Mexico, and we are in contact with the father. My husband is constantly talking to him. We have never met, only on the phone, and he really hopes there will be a hostage deal."

Q: Speaking of deals, there are various reports in the media about a potential agreement in the works. What do you think about this? 

"First of all, I don't know how the families are coping. For me, it was three weeks and I felt it was unbearable. I think about this all the time. Even in our outreach efforts abroad, we keep talking about the fact that they must be brought home. A deal should be made that would see the release of the hostages alive. This is the top priority, it is one of our values. I know that such a deal can take a heavy toll, but Israel is strong and creative enough to overcome these difficulties later. If we stop the fighting now for a few weeks, it will certainly make it difficult for us, but the main thing is that they get the hostages out."

Q: You moved to Israel, converted, and built a life in this complicated country. Do you ever regret your decision? 

"I don't regret it. I didn't grow up Jewish, I came from a Christian family and converted. I feel completely Israeli, and I wouldn't change a thing. I love being here. When I was now in Germany, my family told me, 'Why are you returning to a place where there is war, stay here.' I told them that I feel the safest in Israel, that everyone understands everyone here, and that there is solidarity here due to the situation. There is strong antisemitism abroad. When we were in Berlin, they just set fire to a synagogue and vandalized doors and closed the embassy that day."

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When I ask Rikki at the end of our interview what she misses most about Shani, she replies, "I want her to come back." And when the flow of tears that were held back until now burst open, she says, "She was abroad a lot and always came back. Sometimes it feels like she's coming back soon, but she's not. I want you back. She was a peppery girl, with a temperament, funny, and very active. After she was murdered, we heard a lot of stories from friends and found out how much she cared for everyone, lifted everyone up, and built whole groups around her. It was very beautiful and emotional to hear."

The post 'She left something for the world': Drawings of Shani Louk turned into exhibition appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.