‘Salon Otef’ at the President’s Residence: Omri and Lishi Miran Share Their Story

06 October 2026

President of Israel Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal, hosted a “Salon Otef” gathering at the President’s Residence for the first time yesterday. “Salon Otef” is a series of testimony and remembrance gatherings led by 255, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, in partnership with KKL-JNF.

At the center of the gathering was the personal story of Omri Miran, who was held hostage for 738 days before being released, and his wife, Lishi Lavi Miran, who led the campaign for nearly two years to secure his release. The two shared their journey since October 7 – from Omri’s captivity and the campaign for his return, through their return to Israel and their efforts to cope with life afterward – as well as the challenges faced by released hostages and their families.

The gathering at the President’s Residence marked the beginning of a week during which hundreds of “Salon Otef” gatherings will take place across the country, in homes, communities and public spaces. Tens of thousands of Israelis will hear the personal stories of people who experienced October 7 firsthand.

The “Salon Otef” initiative seeks to bring the personal stories of those affected by October 7 and members of the security forces to the public, create direct and personal encounters, and preserve the testimonies and human stories behind the events of October 7. During the coming week, hundreds of gatherings are expected to take place across Israel, in homes, communities and public spaces, where tens of thousands of Israelis will have the opportunity to listen, ask questions and gain firsthand insight into the stories and experiences of the participants.

The initiative is led by 255, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, in partnership with KKL-JNF and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and in cooperation with Atid for the Otef, ZAKA, Kumo, the Nova Tribe Community, the Kibbutz Movement and additional partners.

President of Israel Isaac Herzog: “The gathering here is deeply meaningful for all of us as a society. We must all continue to listen, remember and remind, to make space for all those who paid the heaviest price and to learn their personal stories. This is the story of all of Israel. The process of healing Israeli society from the trauma of October 7 is like the process of healing a person undergoing rehabilitation and recovery. Seeing you here, true heroes, and seeing you here with us, Omri, is part of our healing process as a nation. On this day in particular, we must remember the power that connects and unites us, the power of togetherness, look forward with hope, and continue to recover
and rebuild.”
Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom / GPO
 
Michal Herzog, wife of the President of Israel: “Today we mark three years since the October 7 disaster. The passage of time does not dull the pain, and we need to remember that every day. Gatherings such as ‘Salon Otef’ and the conversation we are having here this evening are so important to Israeli society. It is important that we continue to talk about and remember the events of October 7, to be grateful that we are all sitting here together, while at the same time remembering our prayers and our shared commitment, our togetherness, and continuing it.”

Omri Miran, released from captivity: “To understand what happened to us on October 7 and what the hostages and their families have been through since then, we need to hear the stories up close, from those who lived through them. The hundreds of ‘Salon Otef’ gatherings that will open across the country allow these stories to pass from person to person and from home to home. I see sharing these stories with the public as a whole and with the younger generation as an extremely important national mission – a mission for life.”

Mor Peretz, CEO of 255, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum: “The story of October 7 should first and foremost be told by those who were there and experienced it firsthand. They are the ones who need to have their voices heard, describe what they saw and went through, and ensure that the story is written from their testimony. The more these testimonies are heard and resonate in more homes and before more people, the more we can preserve the story as it was experienced by those who were there. ‘Salon Otef’ allows them to be the ones who tell and write the story. As a society, we need to be there to listen, remember and pass it on.”

Eyal Ostreinsky, Chairman of KKL-JNF: “Three years after October 7, our responsibility is not only to remember what happened that day, but also to listen to the people who carry with them what they experienced on that terrible day and what they have experienced ever since. The direct encounter created through ‘Salon Otef’ allows us to hear the testimonies and learn about the ongoing efforts to recover and rebuild. KKL-JNF is proud to support an initiative that connects personal stories with the Israeli public and helps preserve them as part of our shared memory.”