Bench dedicated in memory of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas

Speaking at the unveiling, Rabbi Steven Katz, emeritus rabbi of Hendon and Edgware Reform Synagogue, cited a mitzvah from Torah portion Ki Teitzei, which prohibits someone from taking the eggs from a nest when a mother bird is sitting on them. “Compare that to the 7th of October, when children were snatched and seized by Hamas, mothers left helpless and children murdered in front of their mothers.”

“All of us, I’m sure, will always remember the face of Shiri Bibas, the face frozen with fear, utterly creased with anxiety as she held her children, Kfir and Ariel, close to her. It was pitiful for us to watch, and we wish Yarden, her husband, healing, health and lovely memories.”

Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel, 4, and baby Kfir, as they were being abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023[Missing Credit]

The bench has a plaque which bears the inscription: “In loving memory of the Bibas family and all victims of the October 7 massacre. Never again is now. May their memory be a blessing."

Ruth Leveson, who organised the crowdfunder for a bench in memory of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas (Photo: Gaby Wine)[Missing Credit]

Ruth Leveson, one of the organisers of the vigils, who spearheaded the crowdfunding for the bench, said that she had decided on the Finchley location after hostility had been shown towards a bench near her home, which had become a makeshift memorial.

“The day that the news came out that the Bibas boys had been murdered, someone left some yellow roses on the bench, so I added a few things, and, over time, other people added more things.

“I came out one day, and a woman was shouting at me, saying: ‘This is not your personal cemetery, we don’t want this here.’ And I thought: ‘Okay, so you don’t want it here. We’ll have our own bench. It’ll be ours and we can put what we want on it.”

While she had considered putting the bench in a location which was less public, Ruth decided on the site of the Finchley vigils as “so people see it”, adding: “We are not hiding.”

She said that Barnet Council had committed to cleaning the bench if it was vandalised, and Ruth said she intended to check it every day.

The tree planted in memory of Jake Marlowe (Photo: Gaby Wine)[Missing Credit]

A tree was also unveiled, just behind the bench, in memory of British-Israeli Jake Marlowe, 26, who was murdered on October 7 at the Nova Festival, where he was working as a security guard.

Before he was killed, he tried to evacuate partygoers to safety. The plaque at the base of the tree reads that he was “murdered whilst saving others”.

Plaque at the base of the tree in memory of Jake Marlowe (Photo: Gaby Wine)[Missing Credit]

The former JFS pupil and bass player for British metalcore band Desolated had moved to Israel in 2021.

Jake Marlowe, who was murdered during the Hamas massacre at Nova on October 7 (Photo: Facebook)[Missing Credit]

Speaking at the unveiling, Jake’s mother, Lisa, said: “We’re never going to let Jake’s memory be forgotten. He is going to live forever in all of our hearts and our minds, and this tree that’s been dedicated to him with his memorial plaque underneath - thank you.”

Lisa Marlowe, in front of the tree in memory of her son, Jake Marlowe, and the bench to commemorate the Bibas family (Photo: Gaby Wine)[Missing Credit]

Jake’s father, Michael, who said Kaddish, urged everyone to go to the Nova exhibition, which is currently running in London. It details the harrowing events of October 7 at the music festival, where nearly 380 people were murdered and 44 were taken hostage to Gaza. There is also a healing room for reflection at the end of the exhibition.

Michael said it was vital for people to take their non-Jewish friends, including “non-believers”, saying: “They can change their perception about what happened on that date with hell.”

Michael Marlowe (Photo: Gaby Wine)[Missing Credit]

He also encouraged attendees to book tickets for a challah bake in the evening of Thursday May 28 in north-west London, as part the Jakey M project – an initiative set up in Jake’s memory. It is being hosted by rebbetzin and educator Joanne Dove and Tami Isaacs-Pierce, known as the Challah Queen. There will also be live music and raffle prizes.

The challah bake is raising money for the Israel Guide Dog Centre, where three dogs - Jake, Marlowe and Woody - have been sponsored in Jake’s memory.

To book tickets for the Jakey M Project challah bake on May 28 at 7pm, go to: israelguidedog.org.uk/product/challah-bake-israel-guide-dog-centre-in-collaboration-with-the-jakey-m-project/ or click here

To book tickets for the Nova exhibition, go to: novaexhibition.com/london-exhibition or click here