Slice of Life

On January 22, 2024, Galit Vizel’s world changed in a single moment. She was resting at home when she heard the dreaded knock on the door that no family ever wants to hear. IDF representatives came to deliver heartbreaking news: Her husband Elkanah was among 19 soldiers killed in Gaza when Hamas fired an RPG at the building they were in, causing it to collapse. At just 35, Elkanah left behind a wife, four children, his parents, and seven siblings, including a twin.

As I took my last bite of entrecote steak at a wedding smorgasbord, the question I had pondered earlier in the day became a reality: What if a siren blared during the festivities? Moments later, it did. The siren’s familiar, foreboding sound echoed. It wasn’t that it came as a surprise. We have been hearing sirens almost daily. It wasn’t a question of if, but when.

From the moment a baby is born, parents dream of the day they will walk them to the chupah. But for many, the road to marriage is not simple. Some will face a winding, challenging, and often painful journey before finding their match. And now, at a time when so many homes have been destroyed, the need to build has never felt more urgent.

The Honorable MK Erez Malul is a man on a mission. As a respected lawyer, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, and a member of the Shas party, he strives to make a meaningful, positive impact on Israeli society. I had the privilege of interviewing MK Malul about his role in the Knesset on the day the remains of the Bibas family were returned to Israel, an especially somber day for the nation.

Standing at a wedding several weeks ago, I noticed a little redheaded boy dressed in his finest, enjoying the festivities. He appeared to be about four or five years old, the same age as Ariel Bibas, who was still in Gaza at the time. My mind was immediately filled with thoughts of Ariel and his baby brother, Kfir. It is remarkable how a family we have never met becomes part of our daily thoughts.

When the war began in October 2023, no one imagined it would stretch on for 500 agonizing days. Yet here we are, still counting. Back then, people said the war might continue until December. Maybe January. To do the job properly, it would take time. We were told to have patience.