I don't think I'll forget this moment for the rest of my life. It was on Simchat Torah this year, in the morning. Hundreds of young Nova survivors came to celebrate the holiday together at a hotel in Jerusalem. With them were also bereaved families and families of hostages. So much had changed in their world, from Simchat Torah 5784 to Simchat Torah 5785. They talked and hugged and danced with the Torah scrolls, but one remained outside the circle. He sat on the side, contemplative, dejected.
Eliyahu Libman, the bereaved father, saw him. He approached him together with his wife Avishag and offered to talk. I stood nearby, and listened to every word in those moments.
"What's your name?", asked Eliyahu and the young man answered, somewhat tearful: "Nachman Dahan", and began to share his challenging life story. He recounted, trembling, the difficult hours, the friends who were murdered and kidnapped beside him, his escape from the Nova site and his difficulty returning to life.
"I'm the father of Elyakim Libman", Eliyahu began. "Elyakim was a security guard at Nova, he saved dozens of people, and was murdered. And you, Nachman, you survived. Tell me, why did you survive?"
Nachman was silent, and Eliyahu continued: "Nachman, this is the first anniversary of my son's murder. Our first memorial day, is your first salvation day. You were granted life. I ask you to be happy today, also in memory of my Elyakim.
But I ask for something else," Eliyahu added. "You didn't answer me before, and that's okay. Take your time. But I want you yourself to answer the question: why did I stay alive? How do I make my life more meaningful? If I was granted life anew, what do I do with the great gift I received on this day?"
Months have passed since that moment. Since then I’ve wondered about how Nachman is doing. They told me he started working, that he's studying Torah seriously, that his life is getting back on track again. This week, in the WhatsApp group of Nova survivors, a group called "From Nova to Jerusalem", a picture appeared: Nachman and Daniella, a young woman he met shortly after, standing under the Chuppah. Building a home.
The next day friends from Nova held a festive Sheva Brachot for them. How many blessings, how much joy, how much life. Eliyahu Libman also sent a moving blessing, from his military reserve duty on the Syrian border.
Mazal tov Nachman and Daniella. You are certainly now giving an answer to that piercing question.
Shabbat Shalom.
