"A Kind of Miracle that This One Survived": The Cohen Family on the Only Menorah that Survived in Nir Oz

During the massacre committed by Hamas in the southern communities, terrorists invaded the home of Hannah and Micha Cohen in Nir Oz. Their valuable menorah collection, which hung on the wall in their living room, was looted. Only one menorah remained in place, which was later restored, alongside a pair of candlesticks that found their way back from an IDF unit operating in Khan Yunis.

The Cohens, who themselves were sealed inside their safe room during the attack, did not know that their menorahs had been looted until two weeks later. "When we got home, we saw the empty wall; only one menorah was left there, and the understanding of the great damage came gradually," Micha recounts in an interview with ynet.

According to them, the surviving items are not just keepsakes. "It's not just an object; it's a reminder of who we are and the spirituality we believe in," adds Hannah. "These menorahs have gone through a lot, seen everything that happened, and are part of our story." The words "they are part of our story" take on deeper meaning when Hannah shares her feelings about the spirituality accompanying the family. "There was a kind of miracle that this menorah survived; maybe it symbolizes something beyond what we understand," she says.

The couple strengthened this feeling by joining the "Object Beyond" initiative, designed to preserve and restore items that have undergone traumatic experiences during the attack. Each item, especially the saved menorahs, is considered by them to be more than just a "memory." "If only the objects could speak, I would love to hear their story," Micha says, "they see everything we've been through, the hell and the victory over evil."

Alongside the restoration of the menorahs, the couple also focuses on emotional and cultural rehabilitation. "The most important thing now is to release the hostages," Micha notes. "We cannot return to our routine without seeing the hostages come home. That is the first thing that must happen." "It is a national duty to free the hostages," adds Hannah, "after such sights, nothing is more important than restoring life." In conclusion, she says: "It's not just Chanukah; it's our holiday, the holiday that symbolizes our strength to continue, renew, and remember the long journey."