Title: One Day in October: Forty Heroes, Forty Stories
By: Yair Agmon and Oriya Mevorach
Translated by Sara Daniel
Toby Press, 2024
400 pages
Last spring I picked up the original Hebrew version of this remarkable book, dedicated to telling the multi-faceted stories of October 7 survivors, thinking it would be appropriate reading for Tisha B’Av. When that sad day came around and I began the book, I realized that I was wrong.
Yes, it is an account of the massacres and atrocities committed on that horrible day, but it is far more. Reading the accounts of everyday Israelis caught up in the attack, I found myself uplifted by their heroism, inspired by their self-sacrifice, and motivated by their determination. By the time I finished 50 pages, I went online and ordered a copy of the English translation to have at home. By the time I finished 100 pages, I went back online and ordered copies for all of my adult children. This book belongs in the library of every Jewish home.
The authors carefully curated a wide range of perspectives, preserving their unique voices while standardizing the presentation of their experiences on that horrible day. Each entry begins with a vignette of the protagonist before the war – a story from their childhood, a favorite memory, presented by a loved one if the story is about someone who was martyred in the attack – followed by a description of what they experienced after the sirens went off. I was struck by the vast scope of Israeli society represented in the book: Haredi Jews and Arabs, Druze and kibbutznikim, senior citizens and children, Filipinos and soldiers.
The subtitle Forty Heroes is not entirely accurate – there are 41 stories in the Hebrew and 43 in the English version, beautifully translated by Sara Daniel – but the word heroes is incredibly apt. Regardless of their experience, each voice represents a uniquely heroic response to the awful cruelty of the Gazans who breached the border that morning. Reading their accounts gave me the unshakeable impression that despite the fissures and fractures that we see in the media, Israeli society – across its remarkably wide spectrum – is incredibly resilient.
Both the English and Hebrew versions present a map of the Gaza envelope and a chilling table listing how long each community was under siege, how many people were killed, and how many were taken captive (the English version, prepared months after the Hebrew original, is unfortunately more complete). The English version also has a few supplemental appendices that explain features of Israeli life that may be unfamiliar to American readers, such as the early warning siren system and the “safe rooms” (and their limitations) found in Israeli communities. Both volumes feature a link (a QR code in the Hebrew version) that allows readers to learn more about the individuals described in the book, with photographs. The Hebrew version concludes with a moving poem by Shaul Tchernichovsky, strangely omitted in the English – a translation would be a worthwhile addition to a revised English edition.
One Day in October is both a document of great historic importance and a testament to the heroism of ordinary people in the face of extraordinary evil. It deserves the widest possible readership.