"He's not an ex-partner because we didn't break up": three bereaved partners on life alongside loss

Three bereaved partners who lost their loved ones in the Iron Swords War speak about coping with loss, the lack of social recognition for their pain, and life that continues alongside bereavement. The association "Hotir Aharav Haver.a" provides them with accompaniment and support.

Three years after October 7, 2023, three bereaved partners — Osnat Liebovitch, Amit Shustak and Eliora Rosenfeld — share their feelings about life alongside loss. They lost their partners, Sgt. Maj. Barhanu Kasia of blessed memory, Sgt. Maj. Elad Sasson of blessed memory and Sgt. Maj. Hillel Shmuel Saadon of blessed memory, who fell in battles in the Gaza Strip. The article describes the unique difficulty of partners who are not married, who receive less social recognition for their pain. "Because you're not family, those around you give less recognition to the pain, less legitimacy to hurt," says Osnat. They describe the feeling of loneliness, the daily longing, and the difficulty of building a new future alongside memory. The article notes that they are three of 412 bereaved partners who have joined the circle of bereavement since October 7. The association "Hotir Aharav Haver.a" provides them with personal accompaniment, holistic care and a supportive community.