40 | NOVEMBER 7 • 2024 J
N
ARTS&LIFE
BOOKS
A
mir Tibon, an award-
winning Israeli journalist,
has documented the amaz-
ing story of his family’s survival in
Kibbutz Nahal Oz on Oct. 7. In his
book The Gates of Gaza: A Story of
Betrayal, Survival and Hope, Tibon
recounts how his parents helped res-
cue his family, driving from Tel Aviv,
when they received a
text from their son early
on Oct. 7 after Hamas
terrorists attacked the
kibbutz, located less
than a mile from Gaza.
Tibon’s father, IDF
Maj. Gen. (Retired)
Noam Tibon and moth-
er, Dr. Gali Mir-Tibon,
writer and Holocaust
researcher, jumped in
their car with only a
pistol. Many hours later,
Noam Tibon, along
with IDF soldiers, freed
his family and other kibbutz residents
as Gali Mir-Tibon drove a severely
injured soldier to a hospital.
Amir Tibon will be a featured
speaker at the 37th Ann Arbor Jewish
Book Festival on Thursday, Nov. 14,
at 7 p.m. at the Jewish Community
Center of Greater Ann Arbor, 2935
Beach Hollow Drive in Ann Arbor.
His book encompasses not only his
own family story but also draws on
30 interviews with surviving residents
of Nahal Oz, the Israeli soldiers who
helped retake the kibbutz from Hamas,
as well as experts on Gaza and the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The film
rights for the book have been acquired
by the creators of Fauda, an Israeli
series aired on Netflix.
According to Nat Bension, assistant
director of cultural arts and education
at the Ann Arbor JCC, The Gates of
Gaza encompasses a dramatic person-
al story and the larger
history of the region.
Tibon is the diplo-
matic correspondent
for Haaretz, a preemi-
nent Israeli newspaper,
and former editor of
its English edition. He
and his family are liv-
ing in another kibbutz
following the attack on
their home.
Book Festival attend-
ees will be able to
meet Tibon at a wine
and cheese reception
after his presentation. The presenta-
tion fee is $12 for JCC members and
Book Festival sponsors, and $18 for
others; the proceeds will be used to
help Tibon and his family. However,
Bension said accommodations can be
made for those who lack funds and
want to attend the program.
Preregistration is required. Visit
https://jccannarbor.org/book-festival/
registration. The Gates of Gaza is avail-
able at Schuler Books in Ann Arbor
and through the Ann Arbor JCC
Jewish Book Festival website.
Ann Arbor Jewish
Book Festival features
Israeli journalist
speaking about his
family’s rescue on Oct. 7.
The Gates
of Gaza
SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
JEWISH NEWS
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PUZZLE ANSWERS
Solution to puzzle in 10/31/24 issue.
1. Strand of lights
2. Drumstick
3. Neon yellow shoes on right
4. White logo on cap of man on left
5. Orange zipper on the coat of
many on left.