Widow of IDF Battalion Commander Dor Ben Shimon Posts Heartbreaking Farewell

Ariel, the widow of Lt. Col. Dor Ben Shimon, commander of Battalion 52, published a deeply personal farewell post after his death. The post, shared on June 20, 2026, recalled their first meeting, their relationship, family life, his military service, and their two daughters left behind.

She described their early years together with humor and grief, saying that in the first year he only teased her, and in the second he pursued her relentlessly. She said they quickly knew the relationship was serious, went through many ups and downs, and eventually became engaged at the kibbutz with, in her words, his “most beautiful view.” Her answer, she wrote, was an emphatic yes to his smile, his intelligence, his love, and even to “the kibbutznik who dared to get married in shorts and Teva Naot sandals.”

Ariel wrote that although they were physically together only for a few months at a time because of army life, he gave her the “seven most beautiful years” of her life. She praised him as a loving husband, a supportive father, and a man who made her a better person. She said their daughters, whom she called “the two most amazing girls in the world,” would continue to resemble and remind her of him.

She also portrayed him as a commander “who was a person of people,” saying his commitment and intelligence served the state well. According to her, even when he had doubts, he performed every role with extreme dedication, and both officers and soldiers came to love him. Referring to his recent posting as battalion commander, she wrote that two months was too short, that he had already sacrificed enough, and that she believed he would not have wanted to die any other way. In closing, she promised to stay strong and make sure their daughters know him, ending with her final words to him, “I love you and will love you forever. End.”