WATCH: Hananel Gez Remarries After Losing His Wife and Newborn in Terror Attack

In an event that serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit, Hananel Gez has remarried just over a year after a devastating terror attack claimed the lives of his family. The wedding took place in the community of Har Bracha in Samaria, where Hananel stood under the chuppah with his new bride, Ma'ayan. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and the head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, who joined the family to celebrate a new beginning following a tragedy that had previously gripped the country. This union is being hailed as a victory of life over death and light over darkness, marking a profound moment of healing for a man who faced the ultimate loss.

A Journey Through Darkness

The story of Hananel Gez first became known to the public under the most tragic circumstances. Last year, Hananel and his late wife, Tze'ela, were driving to the hospital as she was in labor, preparing to welcome their son into the world. During the journey, terrorists opened fire on their vehicle. Tze'ela was murdered in the attack, and their son, Ravid, was delivered via an emergency cesarean section while his mother was in critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical staff in the neonatal intensive care unit, the infant struggled for two weeks before passing away from his injuries. Hananel, the sole survivor of the immediate family, was left to navigate a world of silence and grief that many thought would be impossible to overcome.

Words of Strength and Hope

During the wedding ceremony, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the Chief Rabbi of Safed, offered a blessing that touched on the historical endurance of the Jewish people. "This wedding is proof that the Nation of Israel lives," the Rabbi declared. He quoted the prophet Micah, saying, "Do not rejoice over me, my enemy, for though I have fallen, I have risen, though I sit in darkness, the Lord is a light to me." The Rabbi emphasized that the community has seen the nation grow and strengthen even after painful blows. "They have not broken us for thousands of years, and they will not break us now. We have risen and we will be encouraged," he added, noting that there is nothing more strengthening than seeing life continue in the face of terror.

Choosing Light Over Death

Yossi Dagan, the head of the Samaria Regional Council, has been a close companion to Hananel since the day of the attack. At the request of the couple, Dagan recited one of the traditional seven blessings under the chuppah. He reflected on the transition from mourning to joy, stating, "You have turned my mourning into dancing for me." Dagan spoke about the contrast between the motivations of the enemy and the resilience of the couple. "Our enemies choose death and darkness, but we choose life and light. Hananel and Ma'ayan, you are adding light tonight not only for yourselves, but you are lighting up the entire world, and the light will always win." He concluded by wishing them a home filled with love and describing the wedding as both a personal and national victory.

A Symbol for the Nation

The wedding of Hananel and Ma'ayan has become a symbol of hope for many who have followed the family's story since the shooting. The choice to hold the celebration in Samaria, the same region where the attack occurred, was seen by many guests as a defiant act of choosing a future over a painful past. As the couple begins their new life together, the memory of Tze'ela and Ravid remains a part of the community's collective consciousness, but the focus of the evening was entirely on the "new floor of life" being built. The ceremony concluded with traditional celebrations, serving as a reminder that even after the most brutal war and personal tragedy, the drive to build and love remains the most powerful force in the region.