The story of Avia Slotki is a powerful reminder of what so many Israelis have endured over the past two years, and how they have overcome.
Avia remarried on Monday, two-and-a-half years after her first husband, Yishai Slotki, fell while heroically defending the southern Israel community of Kibbutz Alumim from Hamas invaders.
On the morning of October 7, 2023, Yishia, Avia and their two-month-old daughter, Be’eri Shachar (a prophetic name if ever there was one), were living in Beersheva and were woken by the air raid sirens as Hamas rained down rockets on the Negev region.
Avia and her daughter, Be’eri Shachar, before the wedding. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
As Yishai moved his family to safety at his brother Noam’s house, they were told that a large terrorist force from Gaza had invaded southern Israel and was rampaging through the small border communities. The brothers immediately grabbed what weapons they had and raced toward the front lines.
They ended up at Kibbutz Alumim, where a security camera showed them being met by a hail of terrorist gunfire. The brothers took cover, made a plan, and engaged the terrorist forces.
When brothers Noam and Yishai Slotki heard about the massacre on Oct 7th, they didn’t think twice. They put on their uniforms, took their firearms and first aid kits, and drove over to save people.
Near Kibbutz Alumim, they encountered over 10 Hamas terrorists and began a gun… pic.twitter.com/Q7n1FefJzy
— Yael Bar tur (@yaelbt) October 27, 2023
At Alumim that day, 17 people were killed, including one IDF soldier and 16 foreign workers. Another eight foreign workers were taken hostage. Five hundred residents of the kibbutz were saved by the heroic actions of the local security squad and the Slotki brothers, whose bodies were later found among a pile of dead terrorists.
Before her wedding, Avia visited Yishai’s grave along with his family at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem.
Avia visiting the grave of Yishai on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
Back in November, after getting engaged to her new husband, Micah Goldberg, Avia wrote:
“I did not know it was possible, but my heart knew, it knew how to break, and to then open and to love again, to make room for more and to grow more and more… the heart knows how to mournfully long to the depths of its soul, and to love to the depths of the abyss. A new journey lies ahead of us; I am grateful for what was, and for all that is yet to come. This is our small victory.”
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