Raising Boaz: How a Young Widow Navigates Life After the War
Yael Kopelovitz, who lost her own mother to terror years ago, now raises her son Boaz after her husband, Captain Eitan Kopelovitz, was killed in action in Gaza.
For Yael Kopelovitz, the pain of losing a loved one to war is a reality she has faced twice, once as a child and now as a young mother. Her husband, Captain Eitan Kopelovitz, a tank platoon commander in the 129th Battalion, was killed in June 2024 when his tank hit an explosive device while he was operating in Gaza. Eitan was only 28 years old. His loss left behind Yael and their seven-month-old son, Boaz. Their story began long ago in the small moshav of Hosheya in the Jezreel Valley, where they grew up together, developing a friendship that blossomed into a deep and loving partnership while they were students at the Hebrew University. Eitan was remembered by his wife as the brave one of the pair, the one who took the initiative to turn their friendship into a committed life together.
The grief for Yael is personal and carries the weight of a painful family history. Her mother, Ruth, who served in the Shin Bet, was killed when Yael was only eight years old. Today, at the cemetery in Hosheya, the graves of her mother and her husband lie only ten steps apart. Despite the profound scar left by this double tragedy, Yael is determined to look forward for the sake of her son. She speaks about the challenge of raising a child who will only know his father through stories, yet she expresses a belief that one can grow into a happy and self-actualizing adult even after experiencing the loss of a parent.
Yael admits that the journey is not easy and that the experience of overcoming one loss only to face another leaves a lasting impression on who she is. However, she actively practices a positive outlook, telling herself that Boaz will have a good future. She remains connected to the organization of widows and orphans of the Israel Defense Forces, which she describes as an enduring support system. Through her story, Yael offers a testament to the resilience of those left behind, emphasizing that while the pain of war does not fade, the drive to build a life and a future for the next generation continues with strength and purpose.
