OTEF — preserving the memory and testimony of 7 October
The name OTEF is connected to the tragedy of 7 October 2023 in the Otef Aza region, the communities that were the first to face the attack. The word otef carries another meaning as well: in Hebrew it means “to wrap”, “to embrace”, “to stay close”. That is exactly the project's mission — to surround memory with care and to keep the stories, voices and testimony of the people who lived through that day from dissolving into the news cycle.
OTEF is an independent, volunteer project made by only 2 people. The team records eyewitness accounts, documents the consequences of the attack and creates documentary films from the material it collects. The films are shot at the sites of the tragedy — with residents of the kibbutzim, people who were at the NOVA festival, ZAKA and MDA volunteers, police officers, soldiers and others. Each interview preserves a part of Israel's living history and helps audiences in Israel and abroad hear it directly from the people who were there. OTEF has released more than 30 films, and a new one comes out every 3 weeks.
Where the donation goes
Donations made on this page fund the Land and Sky association's programme Testimony and Resilience in the Community, approved by the association's board on 31 August 2026. The money follows a testimony the whole way — from the meeting with the person to the meeting with an audience:
- The interview. Travel to the person who agreed to speak, filming and sound, their consent for each use, and support before and after the recording.
- The editing. The footage from the first step becomes the film or the excerpt that is later shown at a meeting.
- Translation and voicing. Subtitles, translation, voicing and transcription, so the testimony can also be shown to people who do not speak the narrator's language.
- Screenings and lessons. Accompanied screenings in communities, community centres and senior clubs; meetings and lessons in schools and youth movements; short preparation for teachers, instructors and group facilitators on working with sensitive testimony material.
- Preservation and access. Cataloguing and keeping the association’s archive, and providing access to it for educational, research and archival institutions.
It also covers what this path cannot be walked without: halls, accessibility and insurance for the meetings, travel, equipment hire, subscriptions and licences, backup, and professional and psychological support.
Programme targets for the year: four accompanied screenings, four educational meetings, 200 participants and three lesson plans.
At least a quarter of the programme's expenses for the year goes to the fourth step — the meetings themselves. Clearing rights and consents for testimony recorded earlier is funded by a separate board decision for each batch.
OTEF is the winner of the “Svetlaya Polosa — 2025” award.
This award is the result of the enormous support of Israel and of all the viewers and subscribers of the channel.
Official OTEF website · OTEF films on YouTube
These links lead to the creators' own channels. A donation made there is not a donation to the association: it comes with no Section 46 receipt and no tax credit. Only the payment on this page goes to the association.
If you gave an interview to the project. On anything concerning the archive copy of your interview held by the association, and its screening at the association's events, you may write to the association directly: info@landandsky.org. The association confirms receipt within 5 working days and completes its handling within 30 days. Writing to the association does not replace writing to the creators and does not diminish it.