The photo from the wedding was one of the most popular images circulating on social media this week. I shared it too, but didn’t know the story behind it. But then I received the following statement from the groom, Elad Dubnov:

“Mika and I got married in a civil ceremony on October 7, 2022. October 7, 2023 was our first wedding anniversary, but that day we woke up in a nightmare. Mika is from Kibbutz Be’eri and her family was in their safe room, cut off from any communication for hours. It was only after two days that it was revealed that her aunt Galit Meisner had been murdered.

“On October 8, I was called up for reserve service. Mika was at home and we decided to get married – according to Jewish tradition in the synagogue of Kibbutz Be’eri. I had always wanted to have a traditional Jewish wedding, and now my wife had changed her mind.

“Our ceremony under the chuppah was arranged by Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen of the Ayelet Hashachar organization, and my wife was deeply moved. One of the guests closest to our hearts was Avida Becher, a family friend who had lost his son Carmel and his wife Donna. The most heartwarming moment for me was when Avida, who had lost a leg, stood under the chuppah and said this blessing: ‘Blessed are You, our Lord, King of the Universe, Creator of man.’

“We did not come to Be’eri just to get married, because we made another decision: we are returning to Be’eri to live there! We will raise our children there, not only for the good of the community, but also for ourselves.”