During the ceremony, KKL-JNF Chairwoman Ifat Ovadia-Luski, who initiated and led the project, announced that between November 4–6, each bereaved family will be invited to plant a tree dedicated to their loved one. A memorial plaque will be placed beside each tree, featuring the fallen individual’s photograph and a QR code that allows visitors to listen to a song chosen by the family.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the partner organizations involved in establishing the forest, including Arie Moalem, Israel Ministry of Defense Deputy Director General and Head of the Families, Commemoration and Heritage Department; Zvika Cohen, Acting Director General of the National Insurance Institute; Eli Ben-Shem, Chairman of Yad Labanim; and senior officials from the IDF, Israel Police, Fire and Rescue Services, Shin Bet, and Magen David Adom.
“On October 7, the State of Israel endured one of the darkest days in its history,” said Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Chairwoman of KKL-JNF. “We will forever carry the pain of the bereaved families — a pain that belongs to the entire people of Israel. Last year, we planted trees with the families of the Nova festival victims near the site of the tragedy, and this year we chose to expand the initiative into a forest — a living symbol of memory and hope. Out of the pain, we will nurture new life and pass on to future generations the strength to stand resilient in the face of every challenge.”