Levana Zoharim, owner of a popular costume shop in Tel Aviv, is offering Israeli children a Batman costume for just ten shekels (around $2.67) in honor of the murdered Bibas family. Four-year-old Ariel Bibas, one of the victims, was a devoted Batman fan, and the costume has since become a symbol closely associated with him.
“The whole country should give a huge hug to Yarden Bibas,” Zoharim said, referring to the father who survived almost 500 days in Hamas captivity and now has to face a life without his murdered wife Shiri and sons Ariel and Kfir.
“I hope the big chains that sit on millions take an example from us, the small businesses,” the shop owner, who is a former Big Brother reality show contestant, added.
“This video makes me choke up, a real lump in my throat, but I have to do it,” Zoharim said.
“This is not about making money – this is a pure loss from my own pocket, but I want to do it,” she argued. “I see in all the comments that there’s a huge desire to dress up as Batman for Purim in honor of the Bibas family. So I got masks – one shekel each – just so TikTok on Purim will be filled with this mask.”
Last April, 50 creators of Batman jointly urged the Qatari and Egyptian governments to facilitate the return of the Bibas family from captivity in Gaza.
“As members of the community of Batman writers and artists, we are contacting you concerning the young Batman fan who was taken hostage by terrorists and held in Gaza since last October 7,” the Batman staff wrote.
“Moved by the many anecdotes of Ariel’s affection for the iconic character who has become a symbol of hope and justice for so many, we implore your governments to exercise all possible leverage on Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to immediately release the Bibas family, and all the Israeli hostages, from captivity,” the Batman staff pleaded.
Last month, the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons were returned to Israel for burial. Israeli forensic experts concluded that the three were brutally murdered by their captors in Gaza.
Yarden Bibas eulogized his murdered wife and children.
“I want to tell you about everything that’s happening in the world and here in Israel. Shiri, everyone knows and loves us – you can’t imagine how surreal all this madness is. Shiri, people tell me they’ll always be by my side, but they’re not you. So please stay close to me and don’t go far! Shiri, this is the closest I’ve been to you since October 7th and I can’t kiss or hug you, and it’s breaking me!” an emotional Yarden said at the funeral.
The tragedy of the Bibas family has moved many people in Israel and around the world.
The Bibas family is also associated with the color orange due to the redheaded children Ariel and Kfir. France recently lit several government buildings and the Eiffel Tower in orange to honor them.
