Maksim Herkin: A Personal Story of Survival and Strength

7pm - 8.15pm, £12, in building // Maksim Herkin was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, during the attack on the Nova Festival. For 738 days, he was held in Gaza, cut off from his family and the outside world. Born in the Donbas region of Ukraine, he was 35-year-old father to a 3-year-old daughter when he was kidnapped, and was the primary provider for his mother and 11-year-old brother. In this intimate and powerful conversation, Maksim will share his personal story. From the final messages he sent to his family that morning, to the choices he made in captivity to protect his identity, and the resilience that sustained him through nearly two years of uncertainty. Now free, Maksim will also reflect on what he has carried with him since his return. What it means to rebuild, what has stayed with him, and what he wants this community to hear and understand. In conversation with Danyelle Neuman, Chief Development Officer at The Jewish Agency for Israel, this will be a deeply moving evening and a rare opportunity to hear directly from someone who lived through these events. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and join the conversation.