Published: 17 November 2023
Last updated: 6 September 2024
Forensic experts informed the family of the Canadian-Israeli activist, beloved on all sides of the conflict, that they had successfully identified her remains.
Tributes have poured in for Vivian Silver, a Canadian-born activist who spent decades working to foster peace between Israelis and Palestinians, whose death in the October 7 attacks has been confirmed.
Initial reports suggested Silver, 74, had been kidnapped during the Hamas massacre of her kibbutz Be'eri. More than five weeks after the attacks, forensic experts informed Silver's family on Monday that they had successfully identified her remains.
Born in Winnipeg, Silver immigrated to Israel 50 years ago with Habonim Dror, a Socialist Zionist youth movement. She was among a group of young North Americans who helped found Kibbutz Gezer in central Israel.
A grandmother of four, Silver moved from Gezer to Be’eri with her family in 1990 and has lived there ever since. She was a founding member of the Israeli-Palestinian Women Wage Peace movement, which was established in late 2014 after the last major war in Gaza.
Tributes came in from all parts of the political and religious spectrum, Israeli, Palestinian, left and right.
Michal Herzog, wife of the Israeli president: "I was fortunate to know Vivian Silver and along with her circle of friends and fans prayed for her safe return home. One cannot comprehend that this optimistic, beautiful soul is gone."
Peta Pellach, colleague and friend: Vivian was a remarkable woman who embodied commitment, love and a passion for justice. She was radiant. The two pillars that guided her life - feminism and Zionism - led her to become one of the founding members of Women Wage Peace in 2014. It was there that I met her and came to love her. Vivian's legacy is the recognition that Israel can continue to win wars but the threat will not disappear until we have peace based on justice and based on love. And we need women to be at the forefront if that is to happen.
