In an extraordinary choice, Iris Haim refused to let Hamas claim another victim - opinion

In an opinion piece, Jonathan Lieberman describes hosting Iris Haim, mother of Yotam Haim, at a screening of the film 'Looking for Yotam'. Iris, who lost her son to friendly fire after his escape from Hamas captivity, founded Beit Yotam for trauma healing. She expresses no anger toward the soldiers, blaming only Hamas, and emphasizes choosing humanity over hatred.

In a first-person opinion piece, Jonathan Lieberman, a rabbi and physician, recounts hosting Iris Haim, the mother of Yotam Haim, at a community screening of the film 'Looking for Yotam'. Yotam, who struggled with mental health issues and was a musician, was killed by IDF troops in December 2023 after escaping captivity in Gaza. Iris Haim, during Shiva, decided to establish Beit Yotam, a center for healing through therapy and music for those with trauma, especially soldiers. She stated she holds no anger toward the soldiers, blaming only Hamas, and emphasized that hatred would let Hamas claim another victim. The article highlights her moral clarity and resilience, contrasting the accidental tragedy of her son's death with the deliberate barbarity of Hamas. Lieberman reflects on the power of kindness and the choice to respond to suffering with humanity rather than bitterness.