A Father’s Journey Through Joy and Loss
Father’s Day once came with a simple certainty: three children, each a unique source of pride and occasional worry. Today, as I sit quietly in our home in Israel, the meaning of fatherhood has grown profoundly complex. I find myself caught between celebrating a miracle and grieving an irreplaceable void.
The Day That Shattered Our World
On October 7th, our lives in Kibbutz Nir Oz—a community founded by my children’s grandparents—were torn apart in just a few hours. In a single, heart-wrenching day, our family’s story turned into one of survival, loss, and lingering nightmares. I am a father who endures the pain of having lost my son Dolev, while my daughter Arbel was kidnapped, and my son Neta survived that horrifying ordeal.
The Ordeal and Miraculous Return of Arbel
After 482 harrowing days in captivity under Hamas, my daughter Arbel, our youngest at 28 and a bright beacon of light, was finally released. Known for her warm smile and vibrant spirit, she once worked as a guide at a center dedicated to space technology, where she shared her joy and knowledge with others. The moment of her liberation was both our greatest miracle and a time filled with terror as she emerged amid fervent crowds. Despite the overwhelming odds, Arbel survived—proving to be as resilient as she had always been.
Upon her return, we learned that she endured unimaginable hardship alone. Isolated and starved, she faced cruelty beyond measure. In the midst of her rescue, she recounted that the horror of her captivity went far deeper than what we witnessed, revealing only a fraction of the evil she suffered.
In the aftermath, we braced ourselves to share tragic news—informing her about her brother Dolev’s fate. In a moment already steeped in sorrow, we discovered that even Dolev’s widow had learned of his death while in captivity, mourning alone without the solace of family support.
Remembering Dolev
Dolev, my eldest at 35, was a remarkable man—a devoted father whose legacy includes a child born just days after his loss. A gifted engineer and selfless volunteer medic, he had always been the first to answer a cry for help. On that dreadful morning, when the sirens pierced the quiet, he assured me with a text message that everything was fine, never knowing that those would be his final words. When the call to aid the wounded came, he left the safety of his home to help others, and tragically, his life was taken while defending our community alongside his friends.
For eight agonizing months, we held onto hope, mistakenly believing he might have been held captive. Only later did we find the heartbreaking confirmation of his death on the kibbutz grounds.
Living Between Two Realities
Every morning since that fateful day, the uncertainty has been unbearable. I wake with the heavy burden of not knowing whether my children are safe, fed, or mere moments away from relief or despair. As Arbel continues her long road to recovery—a journey that now stretches on indefinitely—I have finally found a way to grieve together for Dolev, visiting his grave and seeking solace in memories of his heroism.
Yet, amid our personal healing, there remains an agonizing void for the 53 hostages still held in Gaza. Their families, spanning fathers, children, grandparents, and others, live each day immersed in darkness, awaiting a reunion that seems nearly impossible.
A Father’s Unyielding Fight for Homecoming
On this Father’s Day, my heart is filled with a mix of gratitude and sorrow: thankful for the blessed return of my daughter, yet devastated by the irreplaceable loss of my son. I carry the dual burden of celebrating a life that has overcome a living death and mourning the sacrifice of a man who died while saving others. As I honor Arbel’s resilience, I also hold tight to the memory of Dolev and continue fighting for the return of every family member taken from us.
We remain steadfast in our resolve—refusing to be silenced or give up until every child, every parent, every loved one finds their way home again.
Yechi Yehoud reflects on the profound pain and hope that define his journey as a father in these tumultuous times.
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