At 6:30 a.m., Dudi and his wife woke up to explosions they had never heard before. With seven seconds to race to their safe room, they grabbed their kids and ran to where their guests were sleeping. Dudi’s wife ran without her head covering. Who could even think about such things at that time?
The three billion shekels worth of sensors and ditches did not protect the residents of Kerem Shalom on that fateful morning. Members of the kibbutz had reported that they had noticed Hamas spying on them. Unfortunately, their reports were ignored. The terrorists knew exactly who lived in each home, where the back gate to the kibbutz was located, where the military security coordinator of the kibbutz sat, and where they could attack and cause the most damage possible.
Terrorists armed with grenades, RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades), Kalashnikovs, and anti-tank guided missiles penetrated the protective wall and infiltrated the kibbutz. When the military security coordinator called the War Room for assistance, he was told they could not help as they were also under attack. The one who answered the phone was hiding under a table.
Dudi was a member of the Kitat Konenut, the First Response Team of the kibbutz. The team is a limited security force designed to provide an initial response to a security incident until the arrival of additional military support. Unfortunately, on that day, reinforcements didn’t arrive until 2 p.m.
Once again, Dudi was pulled in opposing directions. On one hand, as a member of the First Response Team, he had been trained to protect the kibbutz. On the other hand, he had the instinct and responsibility to protect his family. He had seconds to make this fateful decision. Dudi grabbed his phone, protective vest, and M16, and ran out. He didn’t even say goodbye to his family as he set off to defend his people. Three grenades exploded next to him over the day. He stared death in the face three times. Baruch Hashem, he was miraculously saved each time.
The First Response Team consisted of nine members plus four additional soldiers. Thirteen people heroically fought against hundreds of terrorists to save their neighbors. As they fought off terrorists, they gave residents time to organize to protect themselves. Many residents didn’t realize that terrorists had infiltrated the kibbutz. Terrorists pretended to be soldiers from the IDF, entering the houses through the windows. Residents mistook them for Jews and members of the Bedouin Battalion of the IDF.
Terrorists arrived at the Schindler home and tried to enter the safe room where the family was hiding, claiming they were IDF soldiers. The father, Amichai Schindler, recognized they were Arabs and heroically tried to prevent them from entering the room. Amichai was critically wounded when the terrorists detonated a bomb at the door of their safe room. His wife told their children not to look at their father and said T’hilim with them. She also tried to get medical help for her husband. After being wounded, her husband heard the voice of his brother who had been killed by terrorists 14 years earlier. His brother told him that his time had not yet come. And indeed, Amichai was saved, albeit wounded seriously. He lost his right arm – and his left hand, face, and jaw were damaged.
Amichai Veitzen Hy”d and Yedidya Raziel Hy”d grew up together in Psagot. Both were social workers and both moved to Kibbutz Kerem Shalom. When they heard the blast coming from the Schindler home, they ran to fight against terrorists without thinking about their own welfare. Amichai stayed in touch with his wife over WhatsApp. One of his last messages to her was “Netzach Yisrael Lo Yishaker,” loosely translated as “The Jewish people are eternal.” As they fought with the terrorists, Amichai and Yedidya distracted them, thereby saving the Schindler family. They were both killed and are buried next to each other in the Har Herzl Military Cemetery.
Dudi also rushed to the scene. Once again, he had to make a fateful decision. Should he try to save Yedidya, or should he fight the terrorists? He decided to fight the terrorists. It turns out that Yedidya had been shot in the head and had no chance of survival.
It took hours for the army to reach Kerem Shalom. At 2 p.m., 30 soldiers arrived. Until then, the residents of Kerem Shalom had been unaware that the massacre involved far more than what had happened at their kibbutz.
At 6 p.m., Dudi returned home. His wife immediately asked him to change out of the white Shabbos shirt he had been wearing since the morning. It was full of blood. Dudi’s wife was given the grim task of informing her two close friends that their husbands had been killed.
It took until the next night for the residents of Kerem Shalom to be evacuated from the kibbutz. As they walked to the bus that transported them to Eilat, Dudi was heartened by the sight of hundreds of cars of volunteers who had come down to the area, risking their lives to help their brothers in the south. This was a welcome feeling after they had felt so alone the day before.
The residents of Kerem Shalom are still unable to return to their homes for security reasons. But they do want to return. Several weeks ago, hundreds of people participated in a vineyard planting ceremony at the kibbutz. Some 4,400 vines were planted as a symbol of their hope to return home. They also plan to build a playground, acquire a protected ambulance, and set up a war room where all that is needed for the security of the kibbutz will be concentrated. Anyone who would like to partner with them in these projects can do so using the following link: pe4ch.com/ref/NFIHBm022cen?lang=en.
Dudi stated that people ask how he can still have faith after all he went through on October 7. He answers that even though indescribable horrors happened on that day, he felt Hashem’s hand throughout. He also believes he was saved because he tried to promote unity by moving to Kerem Shalom.
Please continue to daven for the recovery of the wounded, the release of the remaining hostages, and the success and safe return of all soldiers and security personnel.
Suzie Steinberg, (nee Schapiro), CSW, is a native of Kew Gardens Hills and resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh who publishes articles regularly in various newspapers and magazines about life in general, and about life in Israel in particular. Her recently published children’s book titled Hashem is Always With Me can be purchased in local Judaica stores as well as online. Suzie can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and would love to hear from you.
