A New Day for Nir Oz as Two Heroes Return

September 26, 2025 in Israel

By Salo Zelermyer

The latest chapter in the Kesher Nir Oz partnership took place on September 7 at the Bender JCC as our community welcomed returned hostage and hero of Israel, Gadi Moses, (age 81), and Nir Oz survivor, Nir Metzger, (49), for an inspiring gathering sponsored by American Friends of Nir Oz (AFNO), to discuss their experiences and their commitment to rebuilding Kibbutz Nir Oz — one of the most devastated communities during the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023.

On that dark day, 1 out of 4 of the 400+ residents of Nir Oz was either murdered or kidnapped into Gaza and the majority of the kibbutz was destroyed.

As we marked another Rosh Hashanah, 9 of the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza are from Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Speaking before a standing-room only crowd, Gadi recounted how he maintained his dignity and pride during his close-to-500 days of solitary captivity by reciting the words to Hatikvah (the Israeli national anthem) daily and holding on to hope. He also shared how the spirit and unity of the region’s farmers who came out to the Gaza border to welcome him home (Gadi is a renowned expert in agronomy) cemented his immediate commitment to rebuilding Nir Oz. Indeed, Gadi expects to return to live in his Nir Oz home—now newly repaired—in the coming weeks as part of an initial group of members who are returning. The vast majority of the Nir Oz community is currently living in temporary apartments in Kiryat Gat.

Nir Metzger told the audience about his heroic actions on Oct. 7th as the Head of the Emergency Team; his father, who was kidnapped into Gaza and murdered in captivity and about his courageous decision to move back to Nir Oz with his children to rebuild the community. The audience also heard an update on the rebuilding efforts at Nir Oz from former senior Israeli official Emi Palmor, who is leading the Nir Oz recovery efforts. Palmor revealed that the plans for rebuilding Nir Oz have been approved by the community and that an agreement has been reached with the State of Israel to provide almost 75% of the funding. The remaining funding will come from donors, with AFNO leading the effort to raise funds in the U.S.

Beth El members Lauren Dworkin, director of engagement at the JCC, and David Rittberg, from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, helped lead the event.

Kesher Nir Oz is a partnership between the Beth El, B’nai Israel and Ohr Kodesh synagogues with Kibbutz Nir Oz to maintain a strong personal connection between our communities as the kibbutz continues the process of healing and recovery.

AFNO’s mission is to support and strengthen the Nir Oz community through partnerships and programs, like Kesher Nir Oz, as well as to channel funding to assist in rebuilding a stronger Nir Oz.

To kick off this relationship in 2024, in one unforgettable week over the Shavuot holiday, Beth El members supported a week-long visit from over 40 parents and children from Nir Oz to a nature retreat center in Montgomery County and established friendships and connections that will last a lifetime. Following that magical week, Beth El hosted Carmit Katzir and her family—whose father was murdered on October 7th in Nir Oz and whose brother was kidnapped from Nir Oz and murdered in captivity in Gaza—last Yom Kippur, as she spoke to the congregation about trauma and loss and fighting for the release of the remaining hostages.

To learn more about program and stay up to date on events, visit American Friends of Nir Oz.