A wedding, a war and the generation carrying Israel forward - opinion

Yaakov Katz, father of the bride, writes about his daughter Atara and her fiancé Ilan, both IDF soldiers who served after October 7. Atara, an officer, was called back from home on the day of the attack and later worked with evacuees. Ilan, a military paramedic, was at Kibbutz Sufa during the attack, was rescued, and then spent two years in combat in Gaza. Katz reflects on their generation, the 'October 7 generation,' who are now marrying, studying, and starting careers while carrying the burdens of war. He argues they are the reason to believe in Israel's future, contrasting them with earlier generations and noting the challenges of building a life amid the possibility of war.

In a personal opinion column, Yaakov Katz, a veteran journalist, reflects on his daughter Atara and her fiancé Ilan, both of whom served in the IDF following the October 7 Hamas attack. Atara, who was home on Shabbat and Simchat Torah, was called back to her base and later worked with evacuees in Jerusalem. Ilan, a military paramedic, was at Kibbutz Sufa during the attack, was rescued, and then spent two years in combat in Gaza. Katz describes them as representatives of the 'October 7 generation,' a cohort that rushed to serve, fought in Gaza and Lebanon, and is now trying to build normal lives—marrying, studying, and starting careers—while still carrying the psychological burdens of war. He contrasts them with earlier generations and argues that despite political divisions and security threats, this generation gives him hope for Israel's future. The column also marks Katz's 25th year as a journalist, during which he has covered Israel's wars and politics.