"I don't want to be strong": The confession of the policeman's widow

Rotem Blochman lost her husband Yakir, a police officer who fell on October 7, 2023, while going out to rescue civilians. Three years later, she speaks about the moments of crisis, coping with loss, and the sentence that gave her hope for the future.

Rotem Blochman lost her husband Yakir, a police officer who fell on October 7, 2023, while going out to rescue civilians in the Re'im area. For nearly a week, she was sure he would come home, while trying to maintain a routine for their two sons. Three years later, she speaks about the moments of crisis, coping with loss, and the sentence that gave her hope for the future. The article describes family life before the disaster, Rotem's confidence that Yakir would return because he was a "wall," and the difficulty of asking for help. She also discusses the support she received from the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization, including meetings with other widows and assistance for her eldest son through sports. A meeting with Tami Shelach, the organization's chairperson who was widowed in the Yom Kippur War, gave her hope for the future.