Heart-warming: Widows of fallen soldiers find love again, these are their engagement stories

The two women, Matar Eliyahu and Shaked Kogen, have faced immense loss but found the strength to open new chapters in their lives.

One of the women, Shaked Kogen, is the widow of Sergeant Major (res.) Dovi Kogen, a fighter in the elite Sayeret Shaldag unit who fell in battle in Gaza at the beginning of the war. Shaked and Dovi had three children together. Shaked's fiancé, Shimi Lieberman, is also a widower; his wife, Tchia, passed away three years ago after a courageous battle with cancer. Tchia was beloved in her community in Nitzanim, Gush Katif, where she worked as a teacher and a mother.

The second widow, Matar Eliyahu, is the widow of Sergeant Major (res.) Yedidya Eliyahu, who also fell in Gaza during the war. Matar and Yedidya had three children, the youngest of whom was born after Yedidya's death. Matar is now engaged to Baruch Tzori-Noked from Hebron.

Both couples shared a meaningful verse in their engagement announcements: “Shake off the dust, rise up, clothe yourself in your beautiful garments, O My people.” This verse reflects their resilience and determination to move forward despite the immense pain they have experienced.

Shaked and Shimi announced that they will marry soon in Ofakim, a town in southern Israel, and emphasized the importance of marrying in the vicinity of the Gaza border to bring new life and strength to the area. They will live in the home that Tchia had planned, which Shimi has since built and completed after her passing. Matar and Baruch also shared their engagement announcement with gratitude, saying, “Shake off the dust, rise up, for the light has already dawned. Thank you, God, for this blessing. We are thrilled to announce that we are engaged.”

Sivan Rehov Meir shared a moving story from Matar's father, Kfir, who expressed great pride in Matar's decision to open her heart to love again, despite the immense pain of losing Yedidya. He mentioned that they are continuing to build the house that Yedidya had designed and are currently running a crowdfunding campaign to help secure their future. The family is also grateful for the support and blessings they received from Yedidya’s parents, Rabbi Yoram and Ziva Eliyahu.

Rehov Meir concluded her post by highlighting the support that these two women are receiving as they embark on this new chapter in their lives. They are the first to walk this difficult path and are receiving an outpouring of love and encouragement from their communities. However, both women emphasized that their journey is unique and personal, and they do not intend to be seen as role models for others. They stressed the importance of having a supportive environment as each person navigates their own path to healing.

Rehov Meir ended her post with a heartfelt prayer that resonates deeply with every Jewish heart: “Mazal Tov to all the circles of family and friends. May all of Israel merit, as you have written, to rise up from the dust and begin anew.”