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Every year, the official state ceremony marking the end of Yom HaZikaron and the beginning of Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) takes place on Har Herzl in Yerushalayim. The Speaker of the Knesset officiates at this nationally televised event, which is attended by government ministers, members of the Knesset, IDF commanders and veterans, diplomats, and selected citizens.

From the moment a baby is born, parents dream of the day they will walk them to the chupah. But for many, the road to marriage is not simple. Some will face a winding, challenging, and often painful journey before finding their match. And now, at a time when so many homes have been destroyed, the need to build has never felt more urgent.

On January 22, 2024, Galit Vizel’s world changed in a single moment. She was resting at home when she heard the dreaded knock on the door that no family ever wants to hear. IDF representatives came to deliver heartbreaking news: Her husband Elkanah was among 19 soldiers killed in Gaza when Hamas fired an RPG at the building they were in, causing it to collapse. At just 35, Elkanah left behind a wife, four children, his parents, and seven siblings, including a twin.

The Honorable MK Erez Malul is a man on a mission. As a respected lawyer, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, and a member of the Shas party, he strives to make a meaningful, positive impact on Israeli society. I had the privilege of interviewing MK Malul about his role in the Knesset on the day the remains of the Bibas family were returned to Israel, an especially somber day for the nation.

As I took my last bite of entrecote steak at a wedding smorgasbord, the question I had pondered earlier in the day became a reality: What if a siren blared during the festivities? Moments later, it did. The siren’s familiar, foreboding sound echoed. It wasn’t that it came as a surprise. We have been hearing sirens almost daily. It wasn’t a question of if, but when.

Standing at a wedding several weeks ago, I noticed a little redheaded boy dressed in his finest, enjoying the festivities. He appeared to be about four or five years old, the same age as Ariel Bibas, who was still in Gaza at the time. My mind was immediately filled with thoughts of Ariel and his baby brother, Kfir. It is remarkable how a family we have never met becomes part of our daily thoughts.