Today is one of the saddest days for Israel. October 7 wasn't just an attack. It was the day when thousands of lives were taken, and hundreds of our brothers and sisters were taken hostage. All of this was committed by Hamas, a radical Islamist terrorist organization whose objective is the destruction of the State of Israel. But the purpose of today is not to condemn. It is to remember and honor the victims.

I remember three years ago, that morning of Simchat Torah. I didn't believe what was happening. I went to synagogue that morning to celebrate Simchat Torah. I thought it was going to be a normal, happy day, but slowly, the atmosphere began to change.

The people entering the synagogue didn't seem happy anymore. People started talking: "There has been an attack at a music festival." "Terrorists have invaded a kibbutz." And the day that was supposed to be filled with happiness suddenly turned into a day of fear.

The week following the attack was uncertain. We didn't know what was happening. We only knew that Hamas had committed a massacre and that there were hostages. When the names of those who had been killed or taken hostage started to be released, we feared that our friends or family members might be among them. By a miracle, we didn't lose anyone or have anyone kidnapped. But other families were not as fortunate. We never believed that something like this could really happen.

The following months were difficult. With the war and the rise of antisemitism around the world, my life changed. In the streets, I felt like I couldn't speak Hebrew. I couldn't wear anything that showed that I was Jewish. I felt like I had to hide an important part of my identity.

Something that was especially painful was seeing some of my non-Jewish friends celebrating what happened on October 7 and celebrating Hamas. This hurt me deeply, and it fueled my anger.

Then, the first anniversary of the attack came, and I had the honor of helping lead one of the commemorative ceremonies. While we were planning the school event, I came across something that really caught my attention. Every time we talk about commemorating a tragedy of this magnitude, we often talk about the victims as numbers rather than as people.

At first, I didn't think much of it. But later, that idea became the reason behind my advocacy for remembering the victims.

Today, three years after those horrific attacks, we are once again marking this day. But this year, I don't want to remember them as numbers. I want to remember them as people. As lives. A number cannot represent the entirety of a person's life. It is only a number. Behind every number, there was a person with dreams, family, friends, passions, and a future.

That's why, in BBYO Barcelona, we created the project Remember Them. A project that uses art as a tool to remember and honor the victims. A project that aims to represent the beauty of life. Because a life is not only about what someone has already lived. It is also about their dreams, their hopes, and everything they could have become. When we lose a life, we lose so much: a friend, a family member, a community member, and someone with a future. The importance and value of every person who was lost can never be replaced.

In BBYO Barcelona, this year we have created posters, but this project goes beyond that. Through artwork and other creative initiatives, we can remember and honor the beauty and importance of every life lost on that tragic day three years ago.

With this comes a great responsibility for us as Jews and as people who know what really happened. Our responsibility is not only to remember them, but also to live the lives they no longer have the opportunity to live and to fight hatred in their names.

I believe they would want us to be happy. To build our communities. To create families. To protect our people. To create a better future. To enjoy the opportunities and the lives that we have because there are people who were robbed of those opportunities. And our other responsibility is to fight hatred around the world. To be the generation that does not stay indifferent, but stands up and fights hatred in their names. Because October 7 was fueled by hatred.

And one of the consequences has been the rise of antisemitism around the world. Hamas wanted to spread hatred. But we can choose to be the generation that stands against it.

Today, we don't only remember the numbers. We remember each person individually. We remember their lives. We remember their dreams. We remember the people they loved. Because every life is precious. Every life is beautiful. And today, we assume the responsibility of living, of fighting hatred, and of making the world a better place in their memory.

May the memory of all those who passed away be a blessing.

If anyone is interested in participating in the Remember Them Project, and hopefully helping us create an exhibition at IC, please contact:

Eitan Nissensohn
[email protected]