Virtual tours available of significant Oct. 7 sites in Israel
Replica Hamas tunnel in Hostage Square, Tel Aviv
During Covid, when there was virtually no international travel, the Atlanta Israel Coalition set up a series of virtual tours of Israel.
Due to the current war in Gaza, tourism is similarly way down, so AIC and the Jewish Interest-Free Loan Association of Georgia are launching a three-part free virtual tour of sites significant to Oct. 7, “Let’s GATHER Together to Rediscover the Land of Israel after October 7th.”
As before, the tours feature tour guide David Sussman and will be on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, 8:30 a.m. Central. Those unable to make that time should still register, as a recording will be made available a few days after each tour.
The 12 sessions from the previous series have been viewed over 16,000 times.
The series kicks off on Aug. 4 with the Nova Music Festival memorial site. The tour through the Gaza Envelope starts with a panoramic understanding of the area’s strategic significance from a scenic lookout. Then, the tour will go to the site of the Nova Festival, now seen as a place of resilience in the face of a major Hamas attack. The session will conclude with conversations with IDF soldiers at a rest stop at Shuva Junction.
On Aug. 18, there will be a tour of one of the kibbutzim that was the site of a massacre on Oct. 7, going through the ruins and hearing stories from local heroes who defended their homes and saved lives.
The Sept. 1 session visits Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, a public plaza in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Familes of hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attack have encamped in the square, and outdoor exhibits include the Empty Shabbat Table, replica Hamas tunnel and numerous Bring Them Home art installations. There will be discussions with family members of those held captive.
Southern Jewish Life and Israel InSight magazines are co-sponsors of the series.
Register here.
