Illinois man spreads education and awareness through documentary of October 7 terrorist attack
ISRAEL (KBSI) – October 7, 2023, marks the day a Hamas led attack entered into Israel. It was reported that air strikes and Hamas fighters killed more than a thousand people and kept dozens of hostages. Now an Illinois man is spreading education and awareness through a documentary of events surrounding the terrorist attack.
“When October 7th hit, I couldn’t stay at home and watch it on tv, and I didn’t know what I was going to do but I knew I wanted to help in some way.”
Carey Smolensky is the founder of the Shalom Passion Initiative. An initiative that supports the Israeli people after the Hamas led attack on Israel on October 7th. Smolensky is an Illinois native but has strong roots in Israel. According to reports from CNN and other media the Hamas led attack killed more than 1200 Israelis and took hundreds hostage. Smolensky talks about the meaning behind his documentary–Shalom Passion, Never Again Is Now.
“The purpose of this was to document and also share perspectives of people that live here. The first responders. The day, people that are stationed on bases, just a lot of amazing information and something that’s important and then well be screening it in the US and some film festivals as well so that’s an important project.”
Smolensky saying the Israeli people are strong and resilient as families continue to pick up the pieces. Although it’s been over a year since the Hamas led attack, citizens are still searching for family members and asking for hostages to be released.
“We are 438 days of hostages being kept in captivity and when I was in Jerusalem there was a rally and it’s the same kind of a rally that’s also in hostage square in Tel Aviv, but this rally was down the street from the prime minister’s residence and its basically to bring the hostages’ home. For the government to do whatever they can.”
Smolensky shares a look into daily life in Israel as he experienced a red alert while he was in Tel Aviv for the debut of his documentary.
“I was on the fifth floor of my producers building waiting for my producer to arrive and all of a sudden the app on my phone went off simultaneously to the air sirens and at that point in Tel Aviv you have about 90 seconds to get to a bomb shelter. Where I was on the Gaza boarder you have about 15 seconds and so you went down the five flights and another down into the bomb shelter and anyone that was in that building you wait it out roughly 10 minutes and then you come out.”
Smolensky shares that they don’t go into the bomb shelters because of the bombs as they are shielded by the iron dome which is designed to intercept missiles but to be protected from shrapnel that may fall from the bombs or missiles.
Smolensky says he will continue to help spread awareness, truth and education through his documentary and service work.
“This has to come to an end. Theres so many people who have left their families. Left their jobs, that have left their lives to defend the country and thats only sustainable for a certain amount of time. And luckily Israel has a situation where everybody goes through the armed forces and everyone that’s living in Israel is reserviced and we just want to get people back to their families and live a peaceful life without fearing missile attacks or someone coming across the border to butcher their family.”
Listed below are organizations that give back to Israeli families.
Aid for Otef Israel Foundation
