It was a heart-rending sight. As we walked into her home, the young Ethiopian-Israeli mother sat with her newborn baby on her lap and her other young children nearby.
She spoke softly and tearfully as she talked of her young husband, Kasahun Baynesign, a career soldier, who was killed during the Gaza war.
Just ten days later she gave birth to the couple’s fourth child. She named the little girl Tal-Or, which means “Dew-Light”. Gaylatu said that her husband always left for the army at the break of day, when light was just dawning, and there was dew on the ground. He had done so this time as well. She gave this name to the new baby so that all her children will remember their father and how dedicated he was to the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
She said that her husband had missed the births of their first two children as he was always on army operations. He was there for the third child’s birth and had hoped to be there for the fourth, but now he will never meet this precious new little daughter.
We brought Gaylatu comfort as well as immediate financial support to carry through this painful time. And we brought toys and games for the children who have lost the father they adored, loved and respected.
Gaylatu told us she will tell Tal-Or all about her father and how brave and strong he was. And she will keep him in the hearts of the other children as well.
Since then we have been back several times to see how she is doing, to help with the children, to bring meals and help with the shopping. She is facing raising her four children on her own, without the man who was her constant support and confidante, her lifelong partner. She will need all the help possible and we will provide it for her.