From Trauma to Resilience

Stand for Israel  |  May 7, 2024

October 7 survivors joined in the annual March of the Living at Auschwitz this year. One of these people was Thomas Hand, father of a young girl and former hostage, who found meaning, renewal, and strength in the tradition, reports The Jerusalem Post:

In the quiet aftermath of terrorist attack in Kibbutz Be’eri, the scorched walls of a family home bear haunting handprints – desperate imprints left by residents, including children, seeking refuge from an onslaught by Hamas.

Similar marks of despair are etched into the walls of Auschwitz’s gas chambers, where countless victims left their final, terrifying touches. These visual echoes of hands tell a story of fear, survival, and an unyielding will to live.

For Thomas Hand, whose daughter Emily was dragged from safety on that fateful October day, the imagery of handprints in Be’eri, resonating with those in Auschwitz, highlights a raw, universal plea for life that transcends time and place.