My name is Avishag Israel, a 30-year-old preschool and special education teacher from Rishon Lezion.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve devoted my life to caring for and teaching young children, helping them grow, smile, and feel safe. But since October 7th, everything has changed.

That morning, I attended the Nova music festival with friends. Within hours, the celebration turned into a nightmare. As terrorists took over the area, a missile exploded near me, leaving me with permanent injuries, including partial loss of hearing and sight. I was chased by pickup trucks filled with terrorists, surrounded by gunfire and RPGs.

By nothing short of a miracle, I survived. Many of my friends did not.

Since that day, every part of my life has become a challenge. Daily tasks that once felt simple ; going to work, sleeping through the night, even finding peace of mind now feel heavy. I attend weekly trauma therapy and medical treatments to help me heal, but recovery is slow and exhausting. Some days, it’s hard just to get out of bed.

And yet, through all the pain, I’ve grown closer to God than ever before. I see small miracles in the kindness of others, in moments of calm, and in the strength I find to keep going. My faith reminds me that even in darkness, light still exists and that every breath is a gift.

My dream is to continue therapy, regain my stability, and return to working with children to give them the love and safety that I’ve learned to rebuild within myself.

Your support will go directly toward therapy, rehabilitation, and rebuilding my life so I can continue this journey of healing with faith, hope, and gratitude guiding each step.

With Hashems help, I believe I will turn my pain into purpose and one day use my story to bring comfort and strength to others.

From the depths of my heart, thank you for standing beside me and believing in miracles. ♥️

Avishag

@avishag_israel