Elana Heideman urges Christians and Jews to stand for truth two years after Oct 7 Hamas massacre

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This interview was conducted a few days before the announcement of the Gaza ceasefire deal but the insights shared are still relevant and valuable.]

As Israel marked two years since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, Christian journalist Paul Calvert spoke with Elana Heideman, executive director of the Israel Forever Foundation.

Heideman noted the annual date overlap with Sukkot and Simchat Torah. “It [October 7] also happens to be the first day of our holiday of Sukkot, which is the holiday where we sit in our huts, our temporary homes that we build outside under the stars as a continuous reminder of the journey that we went through in the desert after being released from captivity and slavery in Egypt.” 

Acknowledging the gravity of constant threats from Hamas, Iran, and the Houthis, she explained that for many Israelis, the situation of the Gaza War two years later is surreal. The ordeal with the Israeli hostages and the ongoing anti-Israel terror attacks sharpens the solemnity of the anniversary; however, Heideman insists that Israelis endures by faith and perseverance: “We can only hope. That’s all we have left, hope and prayer.”

Heideman stressed the importance of recognizing how history repeats itself, urging listeners not to let complacency take hold, warning that propaganda often distorts the moral reality of war.

She described how Hamas embedded itself within Gaza’s civilian population and how it successfully weaponized social media and popular opinion based on deception. Even so, Heideman said, Jewish tradition requires Israel to remain a “light unto the nations,” and to keep celebrating life’s joys even in dark times, by sitting in a sukkah, dancing with the Torah, and refusing to abandon the kidnapped hostages.

The human toll, she stressed, has many layers: fallen soldiers and the severely wounded; traumatized first responders and medical teams; families experiencing prolonged reserve duty; and the Israeli society as a whole battling the economic drain. Despite these challenges, Heideman highlights the surge in volunteerism as proof of a national moral code that endures. From pensioners harvesting fields to daily hospital visits to injured soldiers, the love of country is inseparable from Jewish identity: “Zionism is Judaism. You cannot divorce one from the other,” she said.

Heideman believes that although Israel Defense Forces has dismantled terror capabilities on multiple fronts, it is a real possibility that these extremist terrorist groups will rebrand and continue to expand globally. The real test, she said, is whether the world will distinguish good from evil and stand with the Jewish people.

Her prayer is that Jews and Christians together actively remember, teach their children, and build communities of courage that are committed to truth, justice and life.

Click below to listen to the full interview with Elana Heideman.