A lecture

“Dad, we’re meeting tomorrow at the festival in Tel Aviv, right?”
These were Yotam’s words to his father, Raviv, at the end of a workday at the Shachur agricultural partnership, where they worked together—Raviv, the father, as the field crop manager, and Yotam, his son, as a tractor operator.
It was Friday, October 6, 2023, and each went their separate ways.
Raviv headed home to the family’s house in Moshav Sde Nitzan, and Yotam returned to his small, well-kept apartment in the young adult neighborhood of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where he had been living for the past two and a half years.
In a sudden decision, Raviv turned around and called out, “Wait, son, come here for a second.” Yotam also turned around, and they shared a strong father-son hug before parting, knowing they would meet the next afternoon in Tel Aviv.
They never met again.
Yotam Chaim was kidnapped the next day. He survived Hamas captivity heroically, and after 65 days, managed to escape along with two other captives.
For five days, they roamed freely around Sajaiya, and after doing everything they could, they were shot and killed by IDF soldiers, who mistakenly identified them as terrorists.
Raviv, a native of Kibbutz Gvulot, a farmer by profession, musician, drummer, and DJ, tells the story of his bond with Yotam,
how the power of music influenced their relationship both in life and during Yotam’s captivity,
where to find the emotional strength, even as secular people, where to draw faith and hope from,
and how to rise and find meaning even when the worst happens.

The lecture lasts about an hour,
and is accompanied by pictures and videos from Yotam’s life.

For more details please contact us on > hayeyyotamoffice@gmail.com