The events of October 7 deeply affected every Israeli personally. With 1,400 Israelis murdered and around 240 Israelis being held as hostages, it's hard to find someone in our country who doesn't know someone murdered, kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, or missing.
In the Israeli Swiftie community, fans of the famous singer Taylor Swift, the news took a slightly different turn. Roni Eshel, a 19-year-old soldier from Tzur Yitzhak, who served in the Nachal Oz as an observer, became a focal point. Her aunt, Idit, describes her: "She was an excellent observer in an outstanding team of excellent girls. She loved her service, flourished in the army, and was a very good soldier. She had plans for after her service. She wanted to travel, wanted to experience life. A 19-year-old girl who hadn't yet started her life."
The last contact with Roni occurred on the same Saturday morning, when she informed her mother that she was in the army and everything was fine, with no reception. Since that day, Roni has been considered missing until her body was discovered last Thursday.
Upon the news of Roni's absence, the Israeli Swiftie community decided to create friendship bracelets for her. In yellow color theme, that symbolizes the hope for hostages to return safely, fans posted pictures of themselves preparing and wearing those bracelets in worldwide fan groups on social media, gave them for fans during the concert film screenings, and even tried to pass a few bracelets to Taylor Swift herself through her personal security guard who joined the Israeli military during the war. The fans even opened an Instagram profile to bring her back, and created a viral TikTok video to raise awareness.
With the news of Roni's death, the community decided to never forget her. Many fans announced that they would take pictures of Roni and bracelets in her memory to the concerts they planned to attend this summer, spreading her light among other Swifties worldwide.
Fans created banners, and even an AI simulation of Roni receiving a hat from Taylor Swift at a concert (every Swiftie's dream), with Roni appearing in gray. "The most exciting event any Swiftie dreams of being in at a concert," writes the creator on Facebook, "Unfortunately, she will never be able to experience it. When I made this, I couldn't help but cry. One of us was taken from us; it breaks the heart."
created by Amir Yemini and Dasha Babayof
As a devoted fan of Taylor Swift, I felt in the past month as if Roni was a part of me, even though I never knew her. I followed her father closely when he was interviewed in the news, I made friendship bracelets to give away to fans at screenings, and raised awareness to the fact that one of us - a big fan - cannot see the movie or hear the new album like I can, because her faith is unknown. I was hoping everyday that she will return home.
created by Niv Hurvitz
When we train young Tzofim to go out to summer camps and meet other Scouts from all over the world, we often use the term "eye-level Hasbara." Our ability to find a common ground with someone and connect through it. Through this connection, we can explain our day-to-day reality. In a way that doesn't attack or force, we can show our side and our truth as Israeli to what's happening here.
If we want to create an effective explanation of the situation: we don't have to post horrific videos from October 7th. We don't have to talk about the number of missiles fired at us every day. We can speak to the heart of a specific interest group, through something close to them.
This is the story of a group of fans who, through love for a singer, managed to influence the opinions of an audience worldwide, creating understanding and empathy for the situation in Israel. If you want to create empathy and identification, and feel that the IDF videos are a bit distant from you, here's an example of a different way to take action.
"Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
You were bigger than the whole sky
You were more than just a short time"
In loving memory of Roni Eshel, may she rest in peace.