Canadian-Israeli activist believed to be taken hostage by Hamas

A Winnipeg woman living in Israel, known for her prominent Jewish humanitarian work, is believed to be held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

Vivian Silver, 74, is a Canadian-Israeli peace activist and remains missing following a Hamas invasion of her community and home on Oct. 7th – she hasn’t been seen or heard from since….. just hours after hamas launched a devastating surprise attack over the weekend.

“I was shocked. Absolutely shocked. It’s a very surreal situation. Very surreal. It’s very difficult. I am having a very difficult time processing my feelings,” said Rosalind Marmel, Vivian Silver’s childhood and lifelong friend.

Marmel, who now lives in Los Angeles, grew up with Vivian in Winnipeg. She fondly remembers growing up with her and can’t imagine Vivian not being in her life.

“It’s hard to realize that this is our Vivian that we grew up with. That we played in the same playgrounds with. That we went YMHA with. She was a little girl once, just like we all were,” said Marmel

Silver has spent much of her life working for Israeli-Palestinian peace. The 74-year-old is an active member of Women Wage Peace, a grassroots peace movement founded in Israel in 2014. She also played a critical role in starting Alliance for Middle East Peace.

Avi Meyerstein, the founder of the organization has known Vivian for around 20 years. He says she’s a messenger of peace and hope.

“She’s an incredible leader. People follow her because she cares. She cares about everyone she meets,” said Meyerstein.

“I think it’s important that we don’t lose our humanity. I think if Vivian was talking to you right now, she would be speaking about the need to remember our humanity and try to find the end of this as quickly as possible, with as little bloodshed as possible.”

Jeff Parness has been friends with Vivian for several years and considers her his mentor. He fears Hamas has taken one of the best people he’s ever known.

“Vivian Silver is the type of person who would ask her capture, Hamas, for water and I was visualising, she’s sitting on the floor asking for water, the guy hands her water and she would look up at him and smile and say thank you in Arabic. She is probably teaching them lessons about humanity and kindness. That’s who she is,” said Parness.