The house of Shifra Noy z”l
Photo: Alon Gilboa
Every Home Tells a Story
On that horrific Saturday, October 7, 2023, hundreds of terrorists infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz. When the massacre ended, the staggering scale of the horror was revealed: one out of every four members was either murdered or abducted. The houses were vandalized, looted, and set on fire.
In a unique project, initiated by the kibbutz’s sons and daughters, community members wrote in their own words their personal stories and the story of their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Writing these stories ourselves, about ourselves, is another step on the path toward reclaiming control and autonomy over our unconceivable story – over the trauma we endured and are still enduring.
When this project was published, the Nir Oz community was still fighting for the return of 48 abducted men and women held in Gaza, including nine of its own members.
On October 30, 2025, 755 days after he was taken hostage, Amiram Cooper z”l, the last abductee from Nir Oz, was brought home for burial.
On January 26, 2026, Ran Gvili z”l, the last remaining abductee from the events of October 7, 2023, was brought to eternal rest.
With deep appreciation and gratitude to all the project participants who shared their stories.
