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.