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(JTA) — Like different Israelis around the globe, Iddo Gefen spent the hours of October 7 rifling by numerous information studies and messages from family and friends in regards to the terror assaults unfolding in southern Israel.
However from his condominium in New York Metropolis, Gefen was particularly centered on the information about his good buddy from childhood, Sagi Golan. The reservist had left his residence in Herzliya, a metropolis simply north of Tel Aviv, to assist the navy efforts in Kibbutz Be’eri, one of many enclaves beneath assault from Hamas. Golan hadn’t waited for a command to take action — he simply grabbed his gear and hit the highway.
“He gave me a kiss on the lips, and he mentioned [he’d be back in] ‘Lower than every week,’” mentioned Omer Ohana — who was as a consequence of marry Golan on October 20.
However Golan wouldn’t return. He died within the combating on the kibbutz, after saving dozens of individuals from falling into Hamas’ palms, in line with studies that Gefen has heard.
Simply over two weeks later, Gefen discovered himself relaying this story Wednesday evening at what was initially deliberate as a cheerful occasion to mark his profitable this yr’s Sami Rohr Prize, a prestigious $100,000 honor given to works that study the “Jewish expertise.” Gefen, 31, gained for his brief story assortment “Jerusalem Seaside,” which was first printed in Israel in 2017. (The e-book turned the primary translated work to win the Sami Rohr Prize.)
In talking with Gal Beckerman, a earlier Sami Rohr winner, at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, Gefen additionally talked about how actuality has begun to mimic the semi-surrealist tales in his e-book. In a single, “The Geriatric Platoon,” an outdated man decides to depart his household and enlist within the military in Israel’s south, the place he believes Israel’s safety is being threatened.
In actuality, a 95-year-old man suited up for the warfare effort within the days after the occasions of October 7 — which largely befell in southern Israel, together with on a number of the similar kibbutzes named within the story.
“I heard [Israeli novelist] David Grossman say as soon as that you just write generally in hopes of defending the individuals round you, by creating realities which are distant from what’s actually occurring,” Gefen instructed the Jewish Telegraphic Company on Thursday. “Typically we hope that literature and writing could be a approach of shifting actuality in a greater approach, however generally it simply creates one other angle on the truth we already reside in.”
The Israel-Hamas warfare discovered its approach into each query at Wednesday’s discuss, even many of the ones that moderator Sandee Brawarsky — a former New York Jewish Week editor — requested about Gefen’s literary approach. Gefen opened up about his friendship with Golan and supplied a selected portrait of what one Israeli deeply affected by the battle has skilled over the previous two weeks.
No ticket in hand
Since Golan’s marriage ceremony would as a substitute be a funeral — which Jews historically maintain as quickly as potential after an individual’s demise — Gefen confirmed up at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport on October 8, with out a ticket in hand. Flights to Israel have been scarce given the safety scenario, however with the assistance of volunteers aiding individuals within the airport, Gefen discovered himself on one of many few flights departing that day. He mentioned El Al allowed 24 extra individuals than there have been seats on the aircraft; some sat on the bottom, others sat within the cockpit or within the again with flight attendants.
He arrived in Israel round 4 p.m., with the funeral scheduled for five p.m., so he rushed to the cemetery. Golan’s household handed out flowers that have been initially meant for use within the marriage ceremony. Howling in tears, Ohana defined that the household had requested Ivri Lider, certainly one of Israel’s largest pop stars, to carry out the music that Ohana and Golan had chosen for his or her first dance. Lider — who himself had misplaced a pricey buddy on October 7 — confirmed up and performed an acoustic model of the music “I Was Privileged to Love.”
סרן במיל׳ שגיא גולן ז״ל שנפל בעת קרב בקיבוץ בארי נגד מחבלי החמאס, היה מיועד להתחתן עם בן זוגו עומר בעוד שבוע לצלילי השיר ״זכיתי לאהוב״. הערב הזמר עברי לידר הגיע לבצע את השיר בהלוויתו. שגיא ירד ביום שבת, מבלי לחכות לקריאה לקיבוץ בארי כדי להציל חיים ומשפחות נצורות. pic.twitter.com/epOVTVCMnY
— האגודה למען הלהט”ב בישראל | The Aguda (@AgudaIsraelLGBT) October 12, 2023
Gefen had recognized Golan since childhood and described him as a humorous, artistic buddy who was dedicated to volunteering and serving to others. Gefen devoted his latest novel to a slapstick character the pair had invented and embellished collectively.
After serving in an elite intelligence unit of the Israel Protection Forces — paradoxically one centered on saving hostages — Golan studied economics and political science, ultimately discovering himself at a high-paying job at a tech firm that designed video video games. However he left the job to work for TailorMed, which helps sufferers with out medical insurance get important care and medicines in emergency conditions.
Gefen hasn’t fairly totally come to phrases with the big tragedy of the second, and he was stunned that Wednesday’s occasion — which was launched by George Rohr, son of the prize’s late namesake philanthropist Sami Rohr — went on as deliberate. However he mentioned he was capable of flip it right into a sort of therapeutic expertise.
“I feel one of many issues that’s necessary for me on this scenario is to speak about Sagi. Having the prospect for individuals to find out about him and his story as a lot as potential — I feel that’s one of many motivations of going up and talking on this time,” he mentioned.
Although “Jerusalem Seaside” was a success in Israel and established Gefen as a rising star there, he selected to enroll in a neuroscience PhD program at Columbia College, which he’s ending quickly. His analysis focuses on reminiscence and decision-making, and lots of of his tales discover that terrain, together with “Debbie’s Dream Home,” instructed from the attitude of a person who will get a job manufacturing nightmares. The story, he mentioned, has been optioned by Ryan Gosling’s movie manufacturing firm.
Gefen has already printed one other novel, “Mrs. Lilienblum’s Cloud Manufacturing unit,” and an English translation will likely be out subsequent yr. Will he proceed working in neuroscience whereas utilizing the prize cash to proceed to work on books? He’s unsure. However he does know that his writing feels invigorated with a brand new sense of objective.
“After I wrote the e-book [‘Jerusalem Beach’], if anyone would ask me, do I’ve any message with my writing, I’d say, ‘no, everyone wants to seek out their very own message.’ And in the present day, I feel from the final yr and particularly because the previous few weeks, I feel ultimately, all these tales do discuss in regards to the significance of compassion and humanity and the truth that some people can do horrible stuff, however they’re additionally there to consolation and assist one another,” he mentioned. “And I feel literature at its finest can also be a spot individuals can look to for consolation. It doesn’t at all times assist, however generally it has worth.”
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