Dana's Survival

Escaping Terror in the Kibbutz

On October 7th, 2023, life as Dana Kozlowsky knew it changed forever. Living in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, just two miles from the Gaza border, Dana and her family had always felt secure in their close-knit community of 500 people. “We truly felt protected,” she recalls, describing the life she and her family enjoyed before the attack.

Suddenly that sense of security shattered early on October 7th when rockets began raining down, and news spread that terrorists had breached their community. Dana, her husband, and their three young children huddled in their home’s protected shelter for 14 harrowing hours, listening to gunfire and waiting for help that seemed it would never come. They had no water, no food, and were overwhelmed by fear as they realized the scale of the attack unfolding around them. “We begged for help,” Dana remembers, describing the terrifying uncertainty as they tried to comprehend whether the sounds outside were from the Israeli Defense Forces coming to save them, or the terrorists coming to kill them.

When they finally decided to leave the shelter in desperation, the family had to walk through the grounds of the kibbutz still surrounded by terrorists. They made it to the kindergarten inside the kibbutz, only to learn about the immense loss they had suffered. Friends and neighbors were among the dead or missing, including Dana’s best friend, who was taken hostage. The reality of the devastation took a deep toll on them, physically and emotionally. “It was heartbreaking,” Dana says, recalling the days that followed.

For nearly ten weeks, Dana and her family lived in a hotel room in Eilat, far from their destroyed home, struggling to regain a sense of normalcy. The overwhelming grief in the community and the restrictions of living in a hotel made it difficult to find peace. “It felt like they took my freedom,” Dana explains, describing the suffocating feeling of displacement.

Relief in Shai Fund's Helping Hand

A chance to find respite came when the Shai Fund sponsored relief for Dana and her family, offering them the opportunity to temporarily relocate to Nashville, Tennessee. Despite the challenges of adjusting to a new environment, the warm hospitality and support from the Nashville community brought a sense of relief and safety that Dana and her family desperately needed. “When the airplane landed, I felt like I could breathe again,” she says.

Dana’s children found joy in their new surroundings, embracing school, making friends, and rediscovering happiness. For Dana, the experience restored her faith in humanity. “There are good people around me right now,” she says, expressing deep gratitude for the kindness and compassion they received.

However, the return to Israel was difficult, and many in Dana’s community are struggling to adapt to life after October 7th. The trauma of that day lingers, and some are even looking for opportunities abroad to escape the ongoing conflict. “Behind these horrific stories, there are people—normal people—who just want to live their lives,” Dana emphasizes, hoping that others will recognize the human faces behind the tragedy.