Widow of Fallen Officer Shares Grief and Remembrance Ahead of October 7

Ashira Greenberg, widow of the late Lt. Col. Tomer Greenberg, who commanded the Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion and fell during the Swords of Iron War, is experiencing a resurgence of grief and memories as the anniversary of October 7 approaches. She described a feeling of suffocation and a calendar filled with memorial services for fallen soldiers from her husband's battalion.

Greenberg spoke about raising their daughter, Arbel, who was only three and a half when her father was killed. Arbel continues to connect with her father through stories, photos, and videos, and sometimes dreams of him. "I have a daughter to raise who constantly asks about her father," Ashira said, noting that Tomer remains present in Arbel's life through these memories.

In addition to her personal loss, Ashira has taken on the role of attending memorial services for the 42 soldiers from the 13th Battalion who have fallen since October 7. She stated that this new round of services began early in the week and that participating in so many is particularly painful and complex, though she believes it is what Tomer would have wanted. She described these gatherings as difficult but also comforting, honoring the soldiers' bravery and sacrifice.

Greenberg also shared that during the war, her husband was deeply troubled by his inability to be with the families of his fallen soldiers, as he was away on the ground in Gaza. He felt a profound personal connection to each soldier, viewing them as his own children, and regretted not being able to offer them comfort or attend their funerals and mourning gatherings. A key mission for Tomer, she explained, was to preserve the legacy of his soldiers' heroism on October 7, emphasizing that every soldier fought bravely and without hesitation.