Minneapolis woman born in Israel reflects on Oct. 7 attacks
MINNEAPOLIS — As the world reflects on the first anniversary of the deadly attacks of Oct. 7, a Minneapolis woman, born in Israel, is lending a hand to her home country.
Noa Rosenzweig is a native of northern Israel and now decade-long Minnesotan. She wears the symbolic yellow ribbon as a way to remember the hostages.
"We woke up and I saw on Instagram something about the Nova party," Rosenzweig said.
The day is now etched in Rosenzweig's memory.
"I remember driving in my car and starting to see the videos of people getting kidnapped," she said.
Keeping up to date from Minnesota, Rosenzweig looked on as the reports of deaths went from tens and ended up in the thousands.
"I think that's when it hit me that something so, so big happened," Rosenzweig said.
Rosenzweig's father, Avi Dangoor, was evacuated from his home.
"I immediately called my dad and he said we had to leave and it was a shock," she said.
Rosenzweig, who works as the Israel program manager for the Minneapolis Jewish Federation in St. Louis Park, had the opportunity to travel to her home country two times this year. One of those trips was to Kibbutz Holit, one of the sites of the Oct. 7 attack. Fifteen people were killed there.
"We did physical labor we went and supported places that had evacuated people," Rosenzweig said. "We helped pack food. We barbecued for soldiers. We went to visit soldiers that got injured."
Rosenzweig says her work strengthening community will continue as she works for a better world for her two children.
"To feel like I'm making it stronger for them is everything to me," she said. "Their mother got murdered in their house."
Her focus now remains on the hostages and a safe path home.