I’m Yael Shafir Garibi, and I Received Four Gifts…

A Day in the Life of an Israeli MOM: Yael Shafir Garibi
2/11/2023

I’m Yael Shafir Garibi, and I received four gifts…

Since October 7th, I’ve been asking myself how to keep my four gifts safe.

My son, my daughter, and I are enlisted in the reserves

I am a lieutenant colonel in the reserves. I am a casualty officer, and my job is to support and take care of families who lost their sons and daughters in the battle of October 7th, and the days that followed.

Last Monday, I drove to my daughter’s base to bring her a pillow, a blanket, towels, and homemade food. That is what mothers do now.

Right after, I went together with one of my fellow commanders to visit a bereaved family to return the belongings of their son, who was killed in the battle.

It is hard to grasp the absurdity of the situation. On the one hand, as a mother, I bring things to my daughter at the base, while on the other hand, as a casualty officer, I bring to another mother from the base her dead son’s belongings.

As I drive home, I receive a video from my eldest daughter. It is a video of my first grandson, Michael, who is five months old. It is his first tooth. He has this magical, soft, and innocent smile only babies have.

My day still isn’t finished, I have one more stop at my son’s house.

I watch my three-month-old granddaughter, Liane, sleeping peacefully and worry-free.

I wish I could promise my grandchildren that we can create a world for them with love, joy, and mutual responsibility for all.

I open Michal Snunit’s book again and read:
“Now I understand, says the boy in the book, that the life we receive is a gift from God…
And I wonder: who is the one who gives a gift to God? And is God all alone?
So, I give him a hand… and we walk together… and all the people stand and watch in disbelief: a little boy walks hand in hand with God.”
And I?

I close my eyes and pray deeply in my heart that my children and all the mothers will return safely to their homes.