Bereaved Families Find Solace Together During High Holidays

Dozens of bereaved Israeli families participated in a joint Selichot (penitential prayers) tour of Jerusalem's Old City, culminating at the Western Wall. The event, organized by the "One Family" association in cooperation with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, aimed to provide a sense of community and shared experience during the High Holidays, a period that intensifies feelings of loss.

Judith Hershkowitz, mother of Natanel Hershkowitz, who fell in Gaza in October 2024, shared how Rosh Hashanah has become a particularly difficult holiday since her son's death. "The last time we saw him face to face was on Rosh Hashanah," she recalled. "He was here in the neighborhood, with his family. Rosh Hashanah has become an especially hard holiday for us since then." Natanel, a career soldier, husband, and father of three, grew up in Jerusalem and dreamed of building his home there.

Galit, whose son Noam was killed, described how the Days of Awe have taken on new meaning. "Before the attack, the prayers were moving, but they would pass. On the first Yom Kippur after Noam was killed, I experienced 'Unetaneh Tokef' completely differently. Since then, every year I cry during that prayer. The words take on a different meaning when you already know how life can change in an instant."

Both mothers emphasized the profound comfort found in being with others who understand their grief without needing explanations. "There's something about being with people you don't need to explain to," Galit noted. Judith added, "You walk the streets and see everyone, families, children, people happy and laughing, and you say to yourself: Where is my life? The world continues, but our lives have changed. Precisely then, when you walk with a group of people like you, with the same conversation and the same difficulties, you realize you are not alone in the struggle. It doesn't erase the pain, but there is immense strength in the feeling of togetherness."

Moshe Sweil, CEO of the "One Family" association, highlighted the critical need for such gatherings, especially during the holidays when the sense of absence is particularly sharp. "Selichot tours in Jerusalem allow families to be together precisely during these days, to pray, to remember, and to share moments with those who know the struggle up close. There is special meaning in being able to walk together to the Western Wall, during the Selichot days, and to find within the pain a sense of belonging and shared strength."

The "One Family" association, established 25 years ago, serves as Israel's national organization for bereaved families and victims of terror. Since October 7th, it has expanded its emotional, therapeutic, and financial support to thousands of families nationwide.