The Blogs: Reflecting on October 7th with Influencer and Israel Advocate Lizzy Savetsky

Over the past few years, I have had the distinct pleasure of befriending Influencer and fellow Israel advocate Lizzy Savetsky, her husband Dr. Ira Savetsky and their amazing family. Lizzy is an American digital Influencer, public speaker and prominent Jewish activist known for her advocacy for Israel and efforts to combat antisemitism. Originally a fashion blogger, she has shifted her platform to full-time digital education and grassroots mobilization. Though she initially shared fashion, lifestyle, and family content, Savetsky pivoted her social media platform in May 2021 during the Israel–Palestinian crisis as Israel was being attacked daily by Hamas terrorists. Prompted by rising antisemitism, she began dedicating her platform to sharing pro-Israel education, Jewish pride, and fighting online hate. Today, she speaks at rallies, partners with non-profit organizations, and creates content for over 500,000 followers.

Lizzy is a prominent American digital influencer and is known around the world as an activist and public speaker widely recognized for her full-time focus on pro-Israel advocacy and combating antisemitism. Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Savetsky built her initial online following in fashion and accessories under the handle “accessories expert”. However, she pivoted her social media platform to focus heavily on Jewish identity and Zionism and transitioned into dedicated, full-time advocacy following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. On October 7, 2023, the digital influencer and activist was in Israel celebrating the holiday of Sukkot with her husband, Dr. Ira Savetsky, and their three young children. When Hamas launched its multi-pronged terrorist attack, the family was forced to evacuate to an underground bomb shelter at Jerusalem’s King David Hotel. Because they observe Orthodox Judaism, their phones were turned off for Shabbat, leaving them initially unaware of the scale of the atrocities unfolding across the country. She has used her platforms to interview October 7th survivors, speak with the families of hostages, and counter antisemitism online.

She publicly maintains that Zionism and Judaism are fundamentally inseparable. In interviews, she frequently notes that fighting for Israel is a direct fight for her own personal existence and family legacy. Her content includes interviewing the families of hostages, countering anti-Israel rhetoric, leading public rallies, and advocating for Jewish empowerment and pride rather than seeking external validation from hostile groups. Beyond social media, Savetsky is highly involved with traditional Jewish networks. She frequently speaks at events organized by local Jewish Federations, synagogues, and national leadership organizations. She also secured a seat in the World Zionist Congress to collaborate globally on combating antisemitism and expanding Jewish education. Savetsky has openly discussed the material cost of her advocacy. In the wake of her pivot to Israel-focused content, she lost brand sponsorships, mainstream corporate partnerships, and her management agency.

As we attended an October 7th Memorial this past Monday that was hosted by the Consul General of Israel in NYC, we reflected on the three years that have passed since that tragic day where we lost over 1,300 innocent souls (the worst tragedy to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust). I conveyed to Lizzy that it has been three years since October 7th and asked her how she feels right now regarding where we are as a Jewish Nation? In a normal world, you would have thought that the World would sympathize with the Nation of Israel but it has been to the contrary with the rise in antisemitism and us now having a blatantly antisemitic and anti-Israel Mayor? Lizzy eloquently conveyed, “I am not surprised with the state of the situation and where we are at right now. I think that we had been ignoring the signs for way too long to be honest. I wasn’t surprised by the World’s reaction to October 7th because I had seen this pattern where Israel is attacked, they respond to that attack and then the World demonizes Israel and then the World demonizes the Jews. It’s the way that it has always been since I have been doing this work and advocacy.”

Lizzy continued, “I have to be honest, this October 7th feels heavier to me than the past two and I think it’s because we were still fighting for the hostages during the past two October 7th’s and this is the first October 7th where the hostages are now home and I feel like we are now finally able to really properly grieve. Knowing that we are now grieving this horrendous massacre, the worst day of our lifetimes for our people and (on top of it) are facing so many challenges with antisemitism in the world just makes me understand how critical Israel is and makes me so proud. I’ve never been more proud of the IDF soldiers and the people who are fighting alongside me online and in the streets and all over the world because it is really tough. I think honestly that the hardest fight is ahead of us and I hate to say that. We need to regain our strength as a Nation because there is a lot of fight ahead.” I thanked Lizzy for her Israel advocacy, braveness and steadfast commitment that she has shown the World on a daily basis and for being a living example of the Talmudic saying, “Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh”, that all members of the Jewish community are responsible for one another.