Iris Haim and Nicci Menashe
Lessons of Light: Choosing Light Over Despair, in Memory and Eternal Honour of Yotam Haim

The worst of times brings out the best in people. The days, months, and years following October 7th have been filled with torrents of heartbreak and pain for the Jewish people, yet amidst the horror, an immeasurable amount of light has shone in the stories of thousands of brave heroes. From those stories arose important lessons of enlightenment and deep wisdom for humanity to keep going and keep growing. This series focuses on the individual lessons learned from the life and light of the greatest heroes of October 7th and in the time that followed.

Our first installment features a powerful and moving conversation about humanity, resilience, and the choice to bring light even in the darkest moments. On October 7th, Yotam Haim—a 28-year-old musician from Kibbutz Kfar Aza—was abducted. After 65 days in captivity he escaped with two fellow hostages, but the three were tragically misidentified and accidentally killed by IDF forces. From this unimaginable loss, Yotam’s mother, Iris Haim emerged as a rare and inspiring voice of compassion, gratitude, and unity. Iris shares her family’s journey and the legacy of Yotam’s gentle, creative, and deeply human spirit. Her lecture offers a message of: Choosing light over despair, transforming pain into meaning, cultivating empathy and responsibility, and reclaiming hope and strengthening human connection. Iris’s honest and courageous voice and the unique way that Yotam and Iris chose their freedom has touched hearts across Israel and around the world, inviting audiences to see what is possible when we choose humanity above all.