Kumu (“rise up” in Hebrew) was born from the pain of Israel after October 7th, founded by families directly impacted by the tragedy and aims to empower natural leaders to take social and public action. Kumu’s vision for 2025 involves empowering local leaders to create inclusive dialogue and social cohesion across diverse 30 communities nationwide, who share the values of respectful dialogue and unity.

The "KUMU" movement initiated and produced the memorial ceremony for October 7th, organized by bereaved families. The ceremony was watched by over a million people in Israel, broadcasted at more than 350 viewing points across the country and worldwide, and covered by media in 50 different countries.

The October 7th memorial ceremony was a unique and moving event, providing a platform for pain, loss, heroism, and hope.

Jonathan Shemeriz's speech at the end of the ceremony became an influential and renowned address in Israel and is now studied in academic institutions specializing in leadership studies.

Jonathan Shimriz, one of the "40 Under 40" promising young leaders by The Marker and Ice magazines. A survivor of the October 7th attack, Jonathan tragically lost his brother - Alon Shimriz, who was mistakenly shot by IDF forces after being held captive. 

Omri Shifroniis an experienced educator and long-time social activist, formerly the head of the Rabin Pre-Military Humanistic Academy. He serves as an officer and commander with the rank of Major (Res.) in the Israel Defense Forces.

Omri and Jonathan will share their personal stories of loss and their vision for rebuilding Israeli society, focusing on the communities in the South and the role of grassroots leadership in transforming pain into meaningful public action.

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