* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
Words seem inadequate to describe the wedding of Rachamim Amrani and Galit, the widow of Elkana Wiesel, who fell in battle in Gaza. Here are Galit’s own words, spoken to her friends before the Chuppah yesterday in Gush Etzion:
“Elkana lives inside each one of us. God also lives inside us. There is no true separation in this world. In the midst of pain, tears, and emptiness, and during times of great joy - God is good.
Elkana, I’m following the path you paved for me, veering neither right nor left. Following your instructions, I’m choosing to be happy every day and to embrace life in its fullness.
Elkana, please do me a favor and continue to pray in heaven for all the widows and the entire Jewish people. Don’t forget our shared conviction that absolute victory surpasses everything - that a decisive victory is needed over our external enemies as well as our inner demons of sadness, indolence, despair, anger, and the forces of Amalek that fill us with doubt.
Mazal tov, Elkana. I am picturing you now in heaven with your friends, with my father of blessed memory, with Saba (Grandfather) Nissim and Saba Shmuel, along with all of our courageous heros…
Since Simchat Torah (October 7), we have been engaged in an ongoing war. In fact, we’ve been fighting this battle since Adam’s first sin. We are still fighting the same war.
Elkana, you were a fighter all your life. During your final days, you fought in the battle field, and then your soul ascended to heaven, and you left us with the mission to continue fighting this bloody war - a battle between good and evil. We both know that ultimately the good will prevail.
To the beloved Wiesel family: Please know that Elkana is always with you. Both of us will always be with you and will never leave you. We know this isn’t easy for you, and it isn’t easy for us. But Elkana wants you to be happy and to celebrate today. L’Chaim, L’Chaim! Mazal Tov and thank you so much for coming. May this wedding lead to many more weddings, to great joy for the Jewish people, and to the complete redemption. Thank you".
