Bereaved Families Run Chicago Marathon to Honor Fallen Loved Ones
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
About 25 Israeli bereaved family members are running in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, organized by the "One Family" association. The group departed Israel on October 7th, marking three years since the terror attacks, to honor their fallen loved ones. For participants like Gil Pazi, whose son fell in Gaza, the marathon is a way to continue their loved ones' legacies and find strength in community. The event aims to show life continuing alongside memory, with participants finding connection and support.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 25 Israeli bereaved family members are participating in the Chicago Marathon.
- The group departed Israel on October 7th, three years after the terror attacks.
- The "One Family" association organized the marathon participation.
- The runners aim to honor fallen loved ones and find strength in community.
- Gil Pazi is running to honor his son, Yogev Pazi, who fell in Gaza.
Approximately 25 Israeli bereaved family members, accompanied by supporters and runners honoring their loved ones, are participating in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday. The delegation, representing the "One Family" association which supports terror victims and bereaved families, departed Israel on October 7th, exactly three years after the terror attacks.
For the participants, the 42.2-kilometer race is more than a sporting challenge; it's a journey of remembrance, connection, and coping with loss. Each runner carries a personal story and the memory of someone they aim to memorialize. The symbolic departure date of October 7th added further significance to their journey, bridging memory and pain with a forward-looking resolve.
Gil Pazi, whose son Yogev Pazi, 22, fell in battle in Gaza in November 2024, found the Chicago marathon a way to continue his son's story. Yogev had previously volunteered in Chicago for the Jewish Agency, fostering strong community ties. "The moment I saw Chicago mentioned, I knew I had to sign up," Pazi stated.
Over months of training, Pazi found a sense of belonging and connection with others who had experienced similar losses. "It was a process of reconnecting, connecting with people, with society, and understanding we are not alone. The run, for me, is the means, not the end," he explained. "What scares me is not the run itself, but the day after, when this journey ends."
Moshe Swill, CEO of "One Family," described the group as much more than a running club. "Behind each participant is a story of loss and longing, but throughout the training months, we also saw the strength in the connections they forged," Swill said. He added that the marathon allows participants to find new strength, set goals, and feel they can move forward while keeping memories alive. "The choice to set out precisely on October 7th and arrive together at the starting line in Chicago is a moving expression of life continuing alongside memory, and the power of a community that accompanies its members."
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