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OCTOBER 7 - When I sat down with Justin Kron, founder of the Kesher Project and producer of the new film October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre, I knew it would not be an ordinary conversation. The subject was too raw, too heavy, too urgent. What struck me most was not only the horror of the stories Justin and his team recorded in Israel, but the moral clarity behind his mission: to ensure that the truth could not be erased.
As a Jewish Israeli, I know what it means when atrocities are denied. I have seen how silence and distortion deepen wounds that never fully heal. That is why Justin’s film resonates so profoundly. October 7, 2023, was not just a tragedy for Israel — it was a moment when the world was confronted once again with the consequences of hatred left unchecked, and the dangers of denial disguised as “political nuance.”
Justin explained that he and his partners, Todd Morehead and Jesse Schluntz, felt compelled to return to Israel immediately after the massacre to document survivor testimonies before they could be drowned out by propaganda and misinformation. Many voices sought to justify or minimize the horrors of that day, and some even attempted what he described as “massacre denial,” reminiscent of the Holocaust deniers of decades past. Justin’s words reminded me that history is not abstract; it lives in the voices of those who endured it. To hear a survivor describe how her family was murdered, or how hostages were paraded and held by civilians under Hamas direction, is to feel both grief and an urgent responsibility to act.
What also stayed with me was Justin’s observation that October 7 struck Israel during one of its most politically divided moments. Yet, in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, Israelis stood together — united not by politics, but by shared humanity and determination to survive. That kind of resilience is something we can all learn from. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of a nation that has repeatedly faced annihilation throughout history and has refused to succumb.
As I reflected on our interview, I kept thinking of the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” Silence is complicity. And for those of us in the Christian community, silence in the face of antisemitism is especially dangerous. We are called to stand with our Jewish neighbors — not as a matter of politics, but as a matter of faith, justice, and human decency. Justin’s film challenges us to take that call with utmost seriousness — to confront hatred wherever it emerges, to resist the temptation of indifference, and to affirm the humanity and dignity of those who are targeted by violence and denial.
Here is the interview I did with Justin Kron, film producer.
October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre is more than a documentary. It is an act of resistance against denial, a record of truth that future generations will need when lies inevitably resurface. It is also a call to action: to educate ourselves, to listen to survivors, and to bear witness in our own lives. Justin’s work reminds us that bearing witness is not passive. It demands engagement, moral courage, and the refusal to look away.
For me, the answer is clear. Bearing witness is not optional. It is sacred work. And in this moment of history, when the voices of hatred grow louder and misinformation spreads more quickly than ever, Justin Kron’s film reminds us that the responsibility to amplify the voices of truth rests with all of us. To watch, to listen, to remember — and, ultimately, to act — is to honor both the victims of October 7 and the enduring moral call that history places upon each of us.
Justin shared that people can watch the film at october7film.com. Plus, all streaming platforms — including Prime Video, AppleTV, YouTube, and others — will be linked there when it releases on October 3rd. I encourage everyone to visit the site, watch the film, and share it widely. Bearing witness begins with refusing to look away.
(Mihran Kalaydjian has over twenty years of public affairs, government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, community relations and strategic communications experience. He is a leading member of the community and a devoted civic engagement activist for education spearheading numerous academic initiatives in local political forums. Mihran is also the President of Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure of TCCI)
