Unpacking Israeli History An Empty Chair for 251 Hostages: Two Years After October 7
Oct 13, 2025
Two years after the harrowing events of October 7, personal reflections reveal the deep grief felt by families. A single empty chair symbolizes the absence and hope for 251 hostages, urging a nation to confront its loss. The conversation oscillates between triumphs and despair, from the initial fears to the ongoing uncertainties surrounding hostages' returns. As Noam Weissman grapples with national divisions and ritualized sorrow, a powerful call for unity emerges, deftly intertwining history and the yearning for a brighter future.
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Haunted Dining Chair
- Noam Weissman describes an empty velvety gray chair with a yellow ribbon that sits at his family's table as a constant presence during meals.
- His wife vowed the chair would remain empty until every hostage returned, making it a daily talisman of grief and hope.
Symbols Force National Reckoning
- The empty chair transformed external pain into a tangible symbol that kept national attention on 251 hostages.
- Weissman argues that physical rituals can force a society to reckon with ongoing absence and suffering.
Rescues And False Dawns
- Weissman recounts early rescues and failed expectations, including Ori Magidish's rescue and a brief ceasefire that freed 105 hostages.
- He describes how each rescue or setback made the chair feel lighter or heavier depending on the news.
