On November 13th, we learned that Israeli-Canadian Vivian Silver – believed captured in Gaza – was murdered in her home in Be’eri. It took 5 weeks for them to identify her body.
Vivian has been an inspiration to the NIF family since before October 7th. She was a woman of compassion, humanity and an endless, deep and lasting commitment to Jewish-Arab partnership and to peace. Our hearts have been ripped out.
On social media right now, tributes to Vivian by dozens of her Israeli colleagues are being shared and reshared literally in the thousands. News articles are exposing her life’s work to millions.
We’ve collected some of those tributes online here.
Canadian Israeli peace activist Vivian Silver, feared to be held hostage, confirmed killed in Hamas attacks by CBC News
Vivian Silver, a Canadian-Israeli believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas, was murdered on Oct. 7 by the Canadian Jewish News
A tribute to Vivian by Samah Salaime in +972 Magazine
Flag lowered for Vivian Silver by the University of Manitoba
From Campus to Kibbutz: Vivian Silver’s legacy as a Jewish student leader by New Voices Magazine
Shatil Spotlight: A Peace Activist Held Captive by Hamas by Shatil
Women Wage Peace,
We follow her path #VivianSilver pic.twitter.com/7STwgugQOt— נשים עושות שלום (@WomenWagePeace) November 14, 2023
💔💔 Those who murdered Vivian wanted to destroy any hope of a decent future for Israelis and Palestinians. I hope her life will be avenged by peace. That would be a true testament to her legacy. https://t.co/zAqx9BQElo
— Hannah Weisfeld (@hannahweisfeld) November 13, 2023
Since that horrific Saturday, I have been sending daily personal WhatsApp updates to my friends and colleagues abroad. I write them at night usually. Today I sent my update in the morning. Here it is.
Vivian is not in captivity. She was murdered in her home in Kibbutz Bee’ri. >> pic.twitter.com/FwMVNXDBpJ— Yofi Tirosh יופי תירוש يوفي تيروش (@YofiTirosh) November 14, 2023
Click here to see full thread on Twitter
If Vivian was here she would fight for the lives that remain. She would advocate for a ceasefire. She would protest to bring back the hostages at any cost. She wouldn’t let this government silence her. She would stand on stages and say the obvious truth>> pic.twitter.com/Ipe3mJC3nD
— Noam Shuster Eliassi (@ShusterNoam) November 14, 2023
Click here to see full thread on Twitter
This morning, we received the terrible news that Vivian Silver z"l, a veteran activist, was killed in the Oct. 7 massacre. Vivian was persistent in her quest for peace, which she perused even in the darkest times. Rest in power, Vivian. Your work lives on pic.twitter.com/4Eg8030rSo
— Breaking the Silence (@BtSIsrael) November 14, 2023
Vivian Silver was a good friend to many who have passed through the Embassy over the years. We are heartbroken to learn of her confirmed death at the hands of Hamas terrorists on Oct 7. May her memory be a blessing. She leaves behind a mighty legacy of peace building.
— Lisa Stadelbauer (@LisaStadelbauer) November 14, 2023
I never had the chance to meet Vivian Silver.
She spent her life working to build peace and better lives for Palestinians as well as Israelis. She firmly believed that women (voices notably absent at the moment) were essential to this.
We need a thousand Vivians right now.
— David Da Silva (@dawdsCAN) November 14, 2023
Tragic news: Vivian Silver, the Canadian-Israeli peace activist previously thought to be taken hostage, has been confirmed dead, murdered by Hamas in Kibbutz Beeri. Our hearts go out to her family and friends. May her memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/4f2C3ezrbn
— Consul General Idit Shamir (@ShamirIdit) November 13, 2023
So heartbreaking at this very moment when we need so many more Vivians to help us overcome the thirst for vengeance & seek justice, safety & basic rights for everyone living here. Wishing her family comfort. Wishing for us all to take inspiration from her & her family's courage. https://t.co/ubkbp4kciz
— Tania Hary (@taniahary) November 14, 2023
We deeply mourn Vivian Silver, a peace and human rights activist and former member of B’Tselem’s board, who was killed in the Hamas attack on her Kibbutz on October 7, 2023. pic.twitter.com/o8Z450sjrt
— B'Tselem בצלם بتسيلم (@btselem) November 14, 2023