In the shadow of October 7: How Yom Kippur has changed for some secular Israelis

The October 7th attacks have profoundly altered how some secular Israelis approach Yom Kippur, fostering a renewed connection to Jewish identity and tradition. Adele Raemer, a secular Jew from Kibbutz Nirim, survived the attack and instinctively recited Birkat Hagomel, stating, "The terrorists tried to murder me because of my Jewishness, and it was just my instinct to do this." While some, like Jonathan Livny, question God's existence after the tragedy, others are embracing Jewish practices more deeply.

• Danielle Glickman, though pregnant, plans to attend synagogue and avoid technology, emphasizing the importance of tradition since October 7th.
• Former hostages, including Eliya Cohen, have publicly reconnected with their faith; Cohen recited "Shema Yisrael" at his wedding after vowing to do so if he married his partner, Ziv Abud.
• Rabbis report an increase in Israelis, including non-Jewish spouses of Israelis, seeking conversion or non-traditional spiritual connections to Judaism since the attacks.
• Rabbi Yael Vurgan notes a growing interest in alternative Yom Kippur services and community spiritual gatherings in Gaza-border kibbutzim, reflecting a collective need for cultural and spiritual expression.