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

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

“On October 8, I was called up to reserve duty. Mika was home and we decided to get married — according to Jewish tradition, in the synagogue of Kibbutz Be’eri. I always wanted to have a traditional Jewish wedding, and now my wife had come around.

“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 lost his son Carmel and his wife, Donna. The most heartwarming moment for me was when Avida, who lost a leg, stood under the chuppah and recited 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, for we had made another decision: We are returning to Be’eri to live! We will raise our children there not only for the sake of the community, but for ourselves as well.”