INTRODUCTION

The events of October 7, 2023, continue to have a profound impact on Jewish communities around the world. The massacres of that day at the Nova music festival and throughout southern Israel totaled over 1200 deaths and marked the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. In addition, over 200 innocent people were taken hostage by Hamas and thousands were displaced from their homes. (For more information on the background of the Israel-Hamas war, see here.) 

In the three years since October 7, 2023, hundreds of soldiers have lost their lives in the ongoing war, with even more sustaining lifelong injuries from battle. In addition, a large military operation took place in Lebanon against Hezbollah, Israel led two full-scale operations against Iran, and civilians have lost their lives from both rocket and terror attacks. In addition, there has been a worldwide increase in antisemitism and significant civilian unrest, and much is still left undecided about how history will look back on this time. In 2024, Israel declared the date of כ”ד תשרי, the 24th of Tishrei, to be an annual national day of mourning in commemoration of the victims of October 7th, 2023. 

It is our hope that this collection of educational resources, created and curated by The Lookstein Center, will help students around the world to meaningfully remember the events of October 7, 2023 – both the horrors and the hope – through the study of ancient and modern Jewish texts, prayer, songs, and profiles, ideas for purposeful action, prompts for deep reflection, and more.