The Global Journey of Laura Orzy, from South Africa to October 7
By James Galfund as published in the Blogs from The Times of Israel
October 7 will forever be a point in time when everyone will remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard the horrifying news.
For Laura Orzy, it was her global journey, spanning South Africa, Canada and Israel, that brought her to a tense Ahavat Shalom synagogue in Caesarea the morning of October 7.
Prior to Shabbat services, Laura’s son-in-law had said a major attack had occurred in the south but didn’t have many details. At the synagogue, people were whispering something terrible had happened, and everyone was in shock.
Laura and her husband Rick quickly walked home, where her son-in-law shared updated information. Although he had yet to receive call-up orders, he was already preparing to leave. “We were very nervous,” Laura recalls. “We didn’t know what was about to unfold.”