Executive Director Remarks at the Community Commemoration of October 7th

The remarks below were given by Jewish Federation of Madison Executive Director Alan Klugman at the Community Commemoration of October 7th - Marking One Year.

Good evening. I am Alan Klugman, and I proudly serve as the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Madison.

I want to begin with my thanks to our rabbinic community for their support, particularly Rabbi Prosnit, Cantor Niemi, and the entire staff of Temple Beth El. This was not the best time to ask a synagogue to work with us on a special program, but their reply was an immediate YES. And to all of you here and online for joining us. I am eternally grateful.

I made my first trip to Nir Oz in February of this year. Located in the northwestern Negev desert between Magen and Nirim, Kibbutz Nir Oz was founded as a Nahal kibbutz in 1955, an IDF-sponsored settlement. Its founders were drawn to the wide-open space and the notion of creating a community, so very close to the Gaza Strip – in fact, just on the other side of the barbed wire fence – where Jews could and would live side by side with their Palestinian neighbors. The gardens were so lush that one could forget it was the desert. They harvested potatoes and cotton; their Israeli children grew up playing soccer with their Palestinian friends.

Over the years, Israeli media enjoyed reporting that Nir Oz members were known to drive their Palestinian neighbors all the way to Jerusalem, so they could see Israel’s very best cancer specialists. By 2022, Nir Oz had a population of 380. It was defying the odds.

On the morning of October 7th, 2023, the kibbutz residents numbered some 400 people. At roughly 6:40 AM, the first group of 150 Hamas terrorists invaded through the three entrances with one directive – kill as many Jews as possible. Rape as many as possible. The second group of terrorists to join them also numbered 150 and were told to destroy as much of the infrastructure as humanly possible. The third group, the final 150 (which meant there were more terrorists and sympathizers at Nir Oz, than residents) was told that for every Jewish body they brought back to Gaza, dead or alive, they would be paid $10,000. Among this last group of 150 were children as young as 10 years old.

Nir Oz residents heard nothing but sirens and missiles for hours and hours. The IDF, which can normally get to a crime scene within 15 minutes, finally showed up more than 12 hours later; by that time, the kibbutz security committee had identified the living and the dead. Toddlers were found alive, having been left in dresser drawers, covered in ashes.

It would take hours to wash all the children clean, their eyes shut tight from ashes. It would take days before the last of the surviving children finally spoke a few words. The destruction was so severe it left the kibbutz uninhabitable. The evidence of the brutality of the murders, of the raping of elderly women, was left as proof, documented by the terrorists themselves on their cell phones. People were slaughtered, people were mutilated – and I use those words carefully.

This account comes from a private chat I had in Hebrew with our tour guide, Nir Metzger, who grew up on the kibbutz, lived there with his own family, and still serves as security officer for the settlement. He told me, face to face, that they had no choice but to re-build the kibbutz, for the memory of those lost. That was on my second trip there in July, with [Jewish Federation of Madison board members] Lainie Minkoff and Jeremy Tunis. His mother had been returned with the first group of hostages, but his father was presumed dead. I asked Nir where his strength came from and he answered that he was doing it for his Dad, who was one of the six bodies returned in August. Nir and his wife and children will never know why the terrorists skipped over their house. But as he listened to the final moments of his next-door neighbors’ lives, he vowed to rebuild.

He and his wife were among those who searched every house looking for where children might have been hidden. It was they who washed the children for hours.

Nir Oz lost a quarter of its population that gory day; 46 were brutally murdered, and 77 were kidnapped. Its buildings were burned to the ground, and its agricultural machinery was all destroyed. The plumbing and electrical systems were left almost useless. The remaining members of Kibbutz Oz were relocated to a new housing development that remained empty.

As we remember the horrors of 10/7 and simultaneously celebrate the Jewish New Year, I know that you all join me in wishing for Nir Oz and all the other victims, along with the remaining 100 hostages, survivors, and all of Israel, a year of health, hope, and healing.

Let me spend just a few minutes reminding us all how we responded to Israel’s emergency needs. As a community, Madison raised more than $303,000 for Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Emergency Campaign. Our North America-wide Federation system has collectively raised over $854M, of which over $597M has already been distributed [as of September 10*]. Hundreds of Israeli NGO’s have been vetted in the process. Among the more important emergency allocations are the following:

  • Victims of Terror Relief Fund $20M
  • Medical and Trauma Relief (30%+ of the population is suffering from PTSD) $101M
  • Lifeline Services (evacuee shelter, food security) $219M
  • Community Resilience and Rebuilding $36M
  • Economic Relief and Recovery (business loans, training) $77M
  • For more details, read the July 2024 Impact Report >

Through our, yours, and my support of the Israel Emergency Fund, we have become the guarantors of emergency care during this protracted war. We have become the Ministry of Social Welfare of Israel. No emergency care is being provided without our aid. We will continue to stand with the people of Israel for as long as it is necessary. And as long as we stand together, absolutely nothing will stop us. Am Yisrael Chai – the Nation of Israel lives.

We will shortly conclude our program with the singing of Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem. At its conclusion, please stop by our table in the lobby, and if you haven’t done so already at our Annual Campaign Kickoff, fill out/sign one of the cards – they will be sent to hostage families.

L'Shanah Tovah Tikateivu – May you and your loved ones be inscribed in the Book of Life. May this war come to an end, and may our 100 hostages all be freed.

* Allocation Update: As of 10/9/2024, Jewish Federations have allocated over $673K to NGOs from the Israel Emergency Campaign funds.


Community Commemoration of October 7th - Marking One Year