In a poignant gesture marking the traditional lighting of the Hanukkah candles at the White House, President Isaac Herzog delivered President Joe Biden the menorah of the Hermesh family from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
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This menorah remained intact during the ruthless terror attack by Hamas on October 7, symbolizing the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks, the triumph of light over darkness and the victory of heroism over evil.
Shai Hermesh, a resident of Kibbutz Kfar Aza in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, has not only been a former head of the council and a member of the Knesset but also endured a harrowing experience during the Saturday terror attack. During the terrorist attack, Shai, along with some members of his family, was confined for about 20 hours in a safe room at his home until they were rescued by the IDF soldiers.
In a tragic turn of events, Shai discovered that his home had become a command center for Hamas terrorists who attacked Kfar Aza, and it was destroyed. Compounding the devastation, Shai's son, Omer Hermesh, fell victim to the terror attack and was murdered on that same Saturday.
A few days after the terrorist assault, Shai made the courageous decision to return to his home, aiming to search for any belongings that had survived the massacre. To his astonishment, he found that his tefillin and Hanukkah menorah had miraculously emerged unscathed amid the wreckage. This poignant discovery amid the ruins symbolizes the resilience and indomitable spirit that endures even in the face of the gravest adversity.