October Red: Three Years of War, Terror, and Trauma Since Israel’s Bloodiest October
Three years after Hamas shattered Israel’s sense of security on October 7, 2023, the questions surrounding that day have only grown more consequential: What really happened, what has Israel learned, and where does the war go from here? An extraordinary group of guests can bring firsthand experience, military and geopolitical expertise, personal testimony and a faith perspective to the anniversary.
LEARN MORE AT: Yair Pinto — Boots on the Ground
LEARN MORE AT: https://www.meforum.org/
LEARN MORE AT: WWW.ISRAELCHILDREN.ORG
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GLORY STORY
- Three years later, October 7 remains a defining Middle East turning point
- What firsthand experiences reveal about Israel’s darkest day
- How Hamas, Iran and Islamist forces have reshaped the region
- What has been learned from three years of war and terrorism
- Why October 7’s consequences will shape the Middle East for years
Yair Pinto was called up for military service in the immediate aftermath of October 7 and sent toward the Gaza border, where he found himself occupying a remarkable dual role: IDF soldier and journalist. Carrying his phone camera and microphone alongside his military equipment, Pinto reported from the Gaza border as the war started, documenting what he was seeing while experiencing it as a soldier. His frontline reporting helped propel his TBN Israel platform to nearly 2 million YouTube subscribers. Pinto can discuss what he witnessed during those first chaotic days, what the world misunderstood about the attack and what three years of warfare have taught him about Hamas and Israel’s enemies.
Alex Selsky and Jonathan Spyer, spokesmen and analysts with the Middle East Forum, can provide the broader geopolitical picture. They can explain how October 7 transformed the Middle East, what it revealed about Hamas and Iran’s regional strategy, the ideological forces driving the conflict, and whether the West truly understands the threat posed by Islamist movements.
Sid Roth, the Messianic Christian host of It’s Supernatural!, can offer a dramatically different but highly relevant perspective, examining October 7 and its aftermath through the lens of biblical Israel, Jewish history, spiritual warfare and the future of the region. Roth has spent decades connecting the Jewish people and Christian faith for a worldwide audience.
David Rubin brings perhaps the most personal perspective of all. The former mayor of Shiloh and founder of the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund was himself the victim of a terrorist attack in December 2001, when Islamic terrorists shot him and his three-year-old son as they traveled home. Rubin survived, while his son was struck in the head by a bullet that missed his brain stem by just one millimeter. That experience led Rubin to establish his children’s fund, helping young Israeli victims overcome the trauma of terrorism.
Three years later, these voices can examine October 7 not simply as history, but as a defining moment whose consequences are still unfolding.
Relevant Article(s):
OPTIONAL Q&A:
- What should Americans understand about October 7 that they still may not fully grasp?
- How has October 7 changed the Middle East and the world?
- What has the past three years revealed about the forces behind the war?
- What lessons from October 7 should Israel and its allies take seriously?
- How much has the threat to Israel changed since October 7?
- What does the future hold for the broader Middle East?
- Why does October 7 remain such a pivotal moment three years later?
- What should the world be watching now as the third anniversary approaches?
ABOUT YAIR PINTO…
Given two hours to pack and be ready to respond to the October 7 attacks, Yair Pinto is a Captain (Res.) in the Israel Defense Forces Armored Corps. He’s also a journalist, commentator, and frontline reporter known for providing firsthand insight into the realities of war and life in Israel. Through his daily broadcasts, podcasts, and field reports, he delivers real-time coverage of events shaping the Middle East.
As a Jewish follower of Jesus reporting from Jerusalem, Yair offers a unique perspective on the region’s political, military, and spiritual landscape. In Boots on the Ground, he shares a deeply personal account of war, faith, sacrifice, and resilience. He lives in Israel with his wife, Anna, and their three children. YouTube Channel has nearly 2 Million Subscribers @TBNIsrael
ABOUT ALEX SELSKY…
Alex Selsky serves as Director of Israel and East Mediterranean Affairs and serves on the board of directors of Middle East Forum-Israel. Mr. Selsky currently serves as a reserve major in the IDF Homefront Command emergency information unit. He is also a lecturer at the School of Government, Communication and Diplomacy at Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College.
Previously, Mr. Selsky served as an advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, spokesperson for the Israeli National Economic Council, member of the board of governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel, member of the executive board of the World Zionist Organization, and CEO of the International Israel Beytenu Movement. He holds a B.A. in Business and an Executive Master of Public Policy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
ABOUT JONATHAN SPYER…
Jonathan Spyer oversees the Forum’s content and is editor of the Middle East Quarterly. Mr. Spyer, a journalist, reports for Janes Intelligence Review, writes a column for the Jerusalem Post, and is a contributor to the Wall Street Journal and The Australian. He frequently reports from Syria and Iraq. He has a B.A. from the London School of Economics, an M.A. from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. He is the author of two books: The Transforming Fire: The Rise of the Israel-Islamist Conflict (2010) and Days of the Fall: A Reporter’s Journey in the Syria and Iraq Wars (2017).
ABOUT DAVID RUBIN…
David Rubin, founder of Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund and former Mayor of Shiloh Israel, is the author of seven books, including his latest, Confronting Radicals: What America Can Learn from Israel, which has recently been made into a movie. Rubin is the founder and president of Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund, established after he and his then three-year-old son were wounded in a terror attack.
Websites: www.IsraelChildren.org (treating the victims of terror)
ABOUT SID ROTH…
Sid Roth is the founder of Messianic Vision and host of Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural!, the television program he launched in 1996. His ministry centers on sharing Jesus as Messiah and exploring testimonies of encounters with God.
TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW, CALL OR TEXT 512-966-0983 OR EMAIL BOOKINGS@SPECIALGUESTS.COM
