At Yom HaZikaron, Sharing Our Loss Gives Strength

By Naomi Nussbaum

Every year in Israel, we remember those lost to terrorism. Unfortunately, since October 7, those numbers have swelled. More and more will be at the Yom HaZikaron commemoration that OneFamily will hold on April 29.

Those attending will have lost their husbands. Their wives. Their children.

Some on October 7. Some before. Some after.

OneFamily (onefamilyfundus.org), Israel’s leading non-profit coming around the family of those murdered by terrorists and the injured survivors, has been a source of material, emotional, and psychological support.

In 2024 alone, we provided:

• Immediate financial aid to 1,559 families totaling over $2 million.
• Over 500 grieving children participated in dedicated short- and long-term programs.
• Dedicated therapists, staff and volunteers tailoring each activity to address the unique needs of OneFamily participants.

Some of the most specialized groups include parents of widows, twins navigating the devastating loss of their other half, and the families that have adopted orphaned children. There are husbands grieving wives, wives their husbands, children their parents, and parents their children. Grandparents their grandchildren. The list is terribly long and tragic.

We just recently celebrated Passover. For those who have lost a loved one to terrorism, there was an unbearable void where a voice once sang “Ma Nishtana,” where laughter used to echo, where there was once a family that was whole, alive, together.

Can you imagine what that feels like? To sit at a Seder table with a fresh scar that your child or your parents were murdered. To hear “Next year in Jerusalem” when your future has already been stolen?

At OneFamily, we brought these grieving families together for three nights and four days for a seder of shared heartbreak, understanding, and quiet healing. They don’t have to explain the tears. No one looks away. They are surrounded by others who truly get it.

And now next week, we will remember again. Not alone, but together – shared suffering, shared resilience, shared hope for something better.

We know that bereaved families are navigating immense pain, with many still grappling with fresh wounds caused by the staggering loss of life in this war. These families have endured the unimaginable, and our commitment to them has never been stronger. But we cannot do it alone. We need you now more than ever to continue showing your solidarity with those affected by the harsh realities of terrorism and war.

Your commitment provides hope and healing in ways that are hard to describe. One more mother who does not cry alone. One more child who feels held, even just for one night. One more parent who can drop the mask and allow themselves to grieve with those who know the same pain.

To learn more about the work of OneFamily or to support our Passover Seder retreat or other healing activities, please visit onefamilyfundus.org.

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Naomi Nussbaum is executive director of OneFamily, with offices in Teaneck, New Jersey. Founded by Marc and Chantal Belzberg, OneFamily is Israel’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to supporting bereaved families and victims of terror. Through comprehensive programs and services, OneFamily provides emotional, financial, and legal assistance, helping individuals and families rebuild their lives in the aftermath of tragedy.