Iris Haim, the woman who been called “Israel’s New Voice of Hope,” will be the guest speaker at the annual Pauline and Philip Piaker Memorial Lecture, which will be held on Tuesday, October 29, at 7 pm, in the Chabad Center. Haim will speak on “In Light, Not Darkness.” A question-and-answer period and dessert buffet will follow her presentation. There is no charge for this event, but reservations are necessary and can be made here, or by calling Chabad at 607-797-0015.
“While the Piaker family has graciously tendered this event annually, this year the event will also serve as the community gathering in commemoration of October 7,” said organizers of the event. Additional funding for the evening is being supplied by the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton, the Eisenberg Foundation and the Jewish Family Service.
On October 7, Haim’s son, Yotam was taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza into Gaza. Seventy days later, on December 15, during an escape from Hamas captivity, Yotam Haim and two other hostages, Alon Shamriz and Samar Talalka, were misidentified by IDF soldiers and shot dead. “Iris Haim electrified the nation, when she sent out a message of love to the troops, exonerating them of any blame,” organizers said. “Subsequent to that event, Iris has emerged as one of the most important voices in Israel today, charting a new path forward – resilience, hope and unity – for a fractured nation.”
Organizers added, “Accompanied by poignant photos and videos of Yotam’s life, the lecture is a riveting testament to resilience and the power to make positive choices even in the face of devastation. Haim’s singular strength and positive energy, have turned her into an international icon. She is featured regularly on news outlets and has been crisscrossing the globe with her powerful message.
“The essence of Iris’ lecture centers on Yotam’s story of overcoming personal challenges from a young age, the choices she made, especially during Yotam’s final 70 days on earth, as well as the course she has charted for herself since his death,” organizers continued. “In her pre-October 7 life, Haim, a nurse with a sub-specialty in palliative care, was deeply involved in supporting families during the end of life processes of their loved ones, with a particular emphasis on dementia.”
“My father, Philip M. Piaker, started this series in memory of my mother, Pauline, who passed away in 1995,” explained Alan Piaker who along with his sister, Susan Kasper, and brother, Matthew, sponsor the event each year. “We have continued this event after the death of our father in 2003. The world has changed since the horrific massacre on October 7, 2023. Iris will share her perspective on the events that have unfolded after that black day. Please join us for what will be a sad, but compelling and uplifting, talk. It is important for all of us to come together, and find as much positive and unifying energy as we can muster. I think Iris is the kind of speaker who can help us do just that.”
“It is an honor to partner with Chabad for what will be a meaningful event,” said Shelley Hubal, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton. “Since October 7, the global Jewish community has been grieving, and nobody has suffered more than the families of the hostages and the fallen soldiers. Iris’ message of hope will bring healing to our community. I hope everyone will participate.”