On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists broke into Emily Damari’s home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where she was shot in the hand and leg, losing two fingers. Her dog, Choocha, was shot in the head in front of her. Emily and twins Gali and Ziv Berman were kidnapped in her car and driven across the border into Gaza.

For 471 harrowing days, Emily was shuttled between private homes, tunnels and UNRWA facilities. At one point, she found herself trapped in the apartment of a Hamas member, his wife and six children, including a 14-year-old boy armed with a rifle. At another, she was buried deep within Hamas’ tunnel network, held near a senior terror leader who kept hostages close as human shields.

When she was finally released in January 2025, following a tireless international campaign led by her mother, Mandy Damari, Emily flashed her wounded hand in a defiant three-finger wave, a gesture of bravado that grew to symbolize her, and Israel’s, resilience. Since her release, Emily has become a dedicated advocate for the hostages still in captivity — particularly her closest friends, Gali and Ziv Berman.

The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center is honored to host Emily Damari for her first public speaking engagement in the United States. She will be joined by Noa Tishby, a two-time New York Times bestselling author and Israel’s former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism. Tishby has long been at the forefront of pro-Israel advocacy and the fight against antisemitism. She is the co-founder of Eighteen, an organization committed to fighting antisemitism, defending Israel and inspiring Jewish pride. Her reach across digital and traditional platforms engages millions every day.