At 28 years old, Hagar Daniels Ozeri holds her infant daughter, Ella, with both pride and an ache in her heart. Ella’s tiny frame carries the weight of two legacies: her father, Yaakov Ozeri, who fell in battle defending Israel, and her mother, whose resilience embodies the strength of love amidst profound loss. Their story is a testament to courage, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love.
A Love Story Rekindled
Hagar and Yaakov’s love story began in their teenage years at a party, where a shared spark turned into an inseparable bond. Although life briefly took them on separate paths, fate had other plans. Years later, when Hagar learned that Yaakov had returned to Israel after a long time abroad, she couldn’t ignore the pull of his memory - his radiant smile, his gentle soul. A single message reignited their connection, and soon they were inseparable once again. They moved in together, laying the foundation for a life filled with shared dreams.
Building Dreams Together
Yaakov was a gifted industrial design student at Shenkar College, with a flair for creativity that touched every corner of his life. Whether sketching, sewing, or crafting, his hands brought beauty into the world. Hagar, then studying neuroscience at Tel Aviv University, recalls his unwavering kindness and dedication to others, traits that drew people to him effortlessly.
When they discovered Hagar was pregnant, their joy was endless. They’d chosen Ella’s name long before, as if destiny had whispered it to both their hearts. Yaakov’s excitement at becoming a father was palpable; his love for their unborn child already filling the room during quiet moments when he’d rest his hand on Hagar’s growing belly.
October 7 - A Call to Duty
Life, however, had other plans. On October 7, 2023, Israel was shaken by brutal terror. In wake of the massacre, Yaakov volunteered for reserve duty, his sense of duty to his country outweighing everything else. Initially stationed on the northern front, he later requested a transfer to Gaza, despite Hagar’s pleas for caution. “He told me, ‘You’re strong,’” she recalls. “I knew I had to be strong for him.”
On November 7, 2023, just a week after feeling his daughter’s first kicks, Yaakov was killed during intense combat in northern Gaza. His comrades remember him as a leader who inspired calm in chaos, a man who placed others’ safety above his own.
Finding Strength Amid Grief
Hagar, 22 weeks pregnant at the time, was consumed by grief so heavy it seemed insurmountable. The joy of impending motherhood felt distant, replaced by the overwhelming absence of the man she loved. But amidst the darkness, a lifeline emerged: the Letzidech program.
Run by the IDF Widows and Orphans Organisation (IDFWO), Letzidech offers comprehensive support to pregnant widows navigating unimaginable loss. From midwife care and household assistance to emotional counseling, the program provided Hagar with the tools to face her new reality. “I wanted my daughter to be surrounded only by love,” she shares. “Thanks to Letzidech, I had an amazing birth experience - one that, under the circumstances, was as close to perfect as it could have been considering that Yaakov wasn’t there.”
Hagar and Ella in October 2024. Photos: Courtesy of the family. David Metzler / IDFWO[Missing Credit]
A Legacy of Love
In March 2024, Hagar gave birth to Ella, a beautiful reflection of the love she and Yaakov shared. Now living on the kibbutz in the Galilee where Hagar grew up, they are surrounded by family and the companionship of their two dogs and cat. Hagar finds solace in the stories friends and family share about Yaakov. Each memory paints a picture of a man whose kindness, creativity, and selflessness left an indelible mark on everyone he met.
As she looks to the future, Hagar navigates a whirlwind of emotions - the joy and wonder of baby Ella’s every milestone paired with the profound sadness of Yaakov’s absence. “It’s heartbreaking that he won’t get to meet her,” she admits. Yet, despite her grief, Hagar moves forward with strength and grace, carrying Yaakov’s memory in her heart - determined to ensure Ella grows up knowing the depth of her father’s love and sacrifice.
idfwo.org/en
Instagram: @idfwo.en
international@idfwo.org
Registered charity (Israel): 580202166
