Grassroots efforts connect Latino community amid Israel-Hamas war - opinion

• Published date: 27 March 2024
• Author: NOAM BEDEIN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Houston, home to one of the largest and most influential Latino communities in the United States, with over 2.3 million individuals comprising 40% of the city's population, stands as a testament to the cultural, economic, and social prowess of these communities. These leaders serve as pillars of progress for Houston and as beacons of inspiration for Latino communities nationwide

At the forefront of this mission is Amos Horn (42), a Latino youth educator and tour guide originally from Argentina, who lives in Israel. His efforts to free his two kidnapped brothers, Yaniv (45) and Eitan (37), kidnapped on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz, added a deeply intimate layer to the cause. This double tragedy struck deep, resonating with countless families still grappling with the anguish of hostage situations, sometimes with more than one family member held captive. My personal connection to the cause, through Amos's father and former colleague of mine, Itzik Horn, at the Sderot Media Center that I led over a decade ago, whose health situation is deteriorating, added an intimate layer to the mission's purpose.

The fate of the Horn brothers remained shrouded in uncertainty, with sporadic glimpses of life emerging months after their disappearance. Hostage witnesses released towards the end of November spoke of their staggering weight loss (20 kg.), casting a grim shadow over their well-being. Since then, there has been no sign of life. Amos bravely shared his family's ordeal at various forums, from diplomatic gatherings to meetings with Houston's legislative and Latino influencers.

He painted a vivid picture of his brothers' zest for life, reminiscing about their shared love for soccer matches, music concerts, and full-time uncle duties to Amos's young children, highlighting the infectious joy both brothers brought to Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Connections with Jewish Latino youth

Despite the primary focus of our mission on engaging policymakers, media outlets, and influential figures within the Latino community, we made a deliberate effort to connect with Jewish teen leaders as well. It was during one of these interactions that Amos shared a touching anecdote about the upcoming Purim holiday. He recounted how his brothers had taken on the responsibility of organizing the Purim spiel – a traditional performance aimed at uplifting the spirits of their community at Kibbutz Nir Oz.

To illustrate this cherished memory, Amos passed around a photograph of his brothers dressed up for the...