Supporting Israeli women
The absolute bravery of these women, who somehow turned into warriors to save themselves and their families, is unimaginable.
Israeli women Michal Rahav and Moran Stela Yanai arrived in Australia to bravely share their survival stories, but they were not expecting to take home new stories of support from Australia’s Jewish community.
In front of thousands of women who attended the sold out UIA Women’s Division events in both Sydney and Melbourne, Michal recounted how she survived the October 7 massacre with her husband and three children in their home on Kibbutz Nirim.
Michal’s husband heroically killed two terrorists who entered their home, before the family survived a barrage of gunfire, grenades and smoke while hiding terrified in their safe room.
Moran Stela was kidnapped from the Nova festival by Hamas terrorists – with a broken leg she sustained while trying to get away – and survived 54 days in captivity in Gaza before being released as part of the hostage deal on November 29.
Moran Stela was moved seven times while she was in Gaza. Not through the tunnels, but from house to house.
She spared the audience the full details of what happened to her when she was dragged into Gaza and spotted by Gazans, except to say there was “beating”.
Michal’s and Moran Stela’s stories were so harrowing that there were psychologists available in the room for those who needed support after hearing them.
There was stunned silence and tears in the room as the audience took in every word.
The absolute bravery of these women, who somehow turned into warriors to save themselves and their families, is unimaginable.
Their stories are undeniable, though shockingly there are still those who have chosen not to believe everything that happened to Israeli civilians on October 7. So too, do some deny the ongoing atrocities committed against the hostages.
Perhaps there should have been more media at the events, or more people from outside the community to hear their stories first hand.
But that may not have been what Michal and Moran Stela needed as they each find ways to work through their trauma.
Because what they received was a community’s unwavering support, a warm collective hug, and that, they said, would set them on the path of healing.
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