Read and Watch the Experiences of Yaron and Jacqui Vital in Minneapolis
Nina’s Reflection
This past February, I had the opportunity to visit Israel with the Minneapolis Jewish Federation on their solidarity mission Tikvatenu 3. It is a trip I will never forget; over the course of a week, we experienced the sharp contrast of anguish and hope in Israel for nearly two years now. One of the most impactful moments was when we visited Kibbutz Holit. Nestled on the Gaza-Egypt border, the families living on this small Kibbutz experienced a living nightmare on October 7th, 2023 when Hamas militants attacked the South of Israel, killing 1,200 and kidnapping 251 people.
Among those killed from Kibbutz Holit was Adi Kaploun-Vital who died protecting her two young boys on that fateful day. Even in death, Adi’s parents— Jacqui and Yaron Vital— are devoted to their daughter. When we visited Kibbutz Holit, it was nearly empty except for several residents rebuilding and Jacqui, who came to share her daughter’s memory with us. We listened with open hearts in a semi-circle around Jacqui in the very backyard where Adi’s life ended. She recounted her daughter’s artistic and free spirit, the unfolding of events on October 7th, and the fight to keep her daughter’s memory alive.
There are few things as touching as a mother’s love, and I felt it twofold in Jacqui’s voice as she read a poem Adi wrote months before her death, recounting the beauty of becoming a mother for the second time. Even though Adi is no longer with her parents, her sons, and her husband, she has advocates on this planet, and I’m grateful to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation for amplifying Jacqui and Yaron’s mission both in Minnesota and Israel.
Teri & Mike Greenstein
“We were so moved by hearing Jacquie and Yaron’s story. You could feel every emotion that they experienced in the words that they shared. We felt honored and blessed to have them in the Minneapolis community and hope that other communities will have the opportunity to hear from them”.
Annie’s Experience at the YALA Havdalah Event with the Vitals
The Havdalah event with the Vitals was a deeply meaningful and moving experience, and I was honored to be part of it and assist in hosting. Listening to Yaron and Jacqui share their personal journey—the heartbreaking loss of their daughter Adi, the captivity of their grandsons and neighbor, and Yaron’s own survival—brought an emotional, powerful, human perspective to that tragic day. Their courage in telling their story brought the human impact into sharp focus, reminding us that behind every headline and news story are real people and families, a truth Yaron emphasized throughout his account.
Leading Havdalah after hearing their story was incredibly powerful. Before singing, we paused in a moment of silence to remember, honor, and hold close in our hearts those affected by October 7th. This moment of spiritual reflection brought everyone present together in compassion and solidarity. I’m proud to be a part of YALA and am grateful for meaningful experiences like this that bring us together and strengthen our community. Am Yisrael Chai!
Ben Savin – Senior Director of Youth, Teens, and Camping
I want to start by thanking you and your team for organizing our time together with Yaron and Jaqui. They are incredible people, so brave, strong, and inspiring. Heroes, really. I was nervous to hear from them and meet with them. I just didn’t know exactly what to expect. They were so warm and composed, and even though you could feel their pain, it was almost like it felt like they were comforting us as we heard their stories.
The stories and videos that were shared of Adi described her personality and made her feel like somebody I know, and somebody I would have been friends with. She accomplished so much, and was such a talent and a cornerstone of her community. Every loss on October 7th was the loss of a world and hearing her story and learning about her, her family, and their life together before that horrible day is such an important reminder. Adi should be with her family today.
It is our job now to always remember Adi, to share her name and story. I will proudly wear the Adi as Lion shirt, and have shared the impact of meeting Jaqui and Yaron with those close to me. Hearing from them was one of the most powerful experiences I have had around October 7th, and I would only encourage that these opportunities need to continue, we need to be able to hear from Jaqui and Yaron and others, and be widely available in the community.
Jesse Simon – Minnesota JCC
I recently had the powerful experience of listening to Jacqui and Yaron Vital share the story of their daughter, Adi Vital Kaploun, who was murdered during the October 7 attacks. I wasn’t familiar with their family’s story before that evening, and hearing it firsthand left me shaken and emotional. They talked about how Adi was murdered in her safe room and how Yaron narrowly survived the attacks while staying at Kibbutz Holit. They spoke about their young grandchildren who were kidnapped by terrorists and then miraculously released. My emotions moved between anger, grief, and sympathy for their unimaginable loss.
Hearing their story made the October 7 attacks profoundly human for me in a way I hadn’t expected. What resonated most was their perspective as parents and grandparents—their resilience and strength, both during and after the attacks, were truly inspiring. By sharing Adi’s story, Jacqui and Yaron honored her memory, and I felt both grateful and humbled to listen.
Shortly after hearing their story, I ran into Yaron at the JCC. I thanked him for coming to our community and sharing Adi’s story, and he expressed genuine gratitude for the opportunity. It was clear to me that sharing the stories of those murdered and kidnapped on October 7 is essential—both for our community and for those most directly impacted.
Simon
It would probably be inaccurate to describe the Vitals’ visit as “fun,” but it was certainly deeply moving, and – I feel – a source of connection for the participants. To hear their story and the story of their daughter, Adi, was to confront once again one of the chief motivations I’ve had in these past few years for getting more involved in Jewish life. Namely, the wish that our teachings and lineage not die out in the face of rising antisemitism. To be in the room as someone relates a story of extreme suffering is a profound experience that reminds me of the work that is left to do; to share that experience with others with a similar mindset helps that reminder feel hopeful, rather than overwhelming.
I was, admittedly, a little nervous for this event. The New York Times had recently published an article that quite convincingly indicted the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, and I feared that highlighting the suffering of Israelis that same week would feel a bit tone-deaf. This was not the case. I was reminded that suffering in one place does not negate the validity of the suffering in another place. I was similarly reminded that my heart can break for two communities at once, which perhaps makes the heart a little bigger in the end – albeit more painful to bear in the short-term. This was, in short, a beautiful experience, and I am grateful for it.
