Kfar Aza Victims Commemorated Through Dolls in Global Kindergartens

Three years after they were murdered at Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, cousins Nitzan Libstein and Neta Epstein are being commemorated in Jewish kindergartens worldwide through custom cloth dolls. The initiative was unveiled on Friday in Prague during the "Hiburim" conference organized by the Netaim organization, gathering some 400 directors of educational institutions and educators from dozens of Jewish communities.

Neta's parents, Uri and Ayelet Epstein, attended the gathering to introduce the dolls to the local kindergarten children and share the life stories of the two young men. The dolls are designed to integrate into the daily activities of educational teams, ranging from Shabbat celebrations to Jewish holidays, and will later travel to other institutions worldwide to pass on their legacy.

Libstein was only 19 years old when he was killed, while his cousin Epstein chose to dedicate his year of service and additional years of his life to volunteering with children and youth with disabilities. This educational endeavor continues the vision of Ofir Libstein, Nitzan's father and former head of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, who fell while defending the kibbutz and was among the founders of the project connecting diaspora Jewish communities with Israel.

Uri Epstein, who currently serves as head of the regional council, explained the significance of the step: "Neta grew up on values of friendship and seeing the other. For us, bringing his figure into kindergartens is a living continuation of his path and his work." According to him, integrating these figures into kindergartens bridges the educational vision of Netaim and Sha'ar Hanegev with communities in the diaspora, serving as a living educational foundation that instills hope among the younger generation.