Letter to Yarden Bibas

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Dear Yarden,

It’s 4:30 am. I wake up thinking about you. That must sound crazy, but I’m certain I’m not the only one. One of the things that I fell in love with since the aftermath of October 7 was loving and being loved. Something I don’t always know, is whether I received love in the way I deserved. But the unraveling of worlds since the 7th – has rained on me a world of love here in Israel that I don’t think I’ve seen since I was a little girl watching my Bubbie and Zadie and how they loved. Fast forward, our IDF and their love for this country and our people and how they would fight with their bare hands and without gear. They love hard. A love I have grown to love. So, I set out to love them and in return learned to love differently and be loved in a way I cannot recall. And then I fell in love with Israel. I made aliyah on October 7, 2020. And for three years, I was ready to leave Israel. This wasn’t the love I had fantasized about. Then came October 7, 2023, and the days that followed. A country rose up; gave every part of their hearts to fight for the release of who quickly became our loved ones too. You, Shiri, Ariel, Kfir. Over the days that followed, I have picked clementines on your family farm; sat with your cousin in Herzliya back in May. Fighting for all of you with my love. You have been so brave. So courageous. Your love gave you reason to fight for your life and the life you created. I will never digest why we have to fight so hard for love. I wake up at 4:30 a.m. You’re on my mind. I hope you’re being held tight. Know how loved you are by so many that don’t know you personally. Please hang on tight. I love you.

Picture of Seagal Hagege

Seagal Hagege

Seagal Hagege  made Aliyah with her children to Tel Mond on October 7, 2020. The war broke out on her three-year Aliyah-versary. She had been a teacher, but like all Israelis at the time, her life took a sharp turn and her path took a different direction. Through Facebook, she connected with an army unit requesting boots, and within hours she had raised much more than the money required to purchase them. For 16 months Seagal has worked non-stop. One initiative has led to another. She goes down to the Gaza Envelope from her home up north *multiple times a week* - car packed, donated gear in tow, and meets up with soldiers and commanders, reservists and new soldiers, to provide them with critical items, as well as some extras not provided by the army, which are very much appreciated by all.  Seagal has organized wellness days to treat and pamper soldiers coming out of battle, with massages, ice baths, therapies, and more. She has organized trips for small groups to volunteer on farms, bases, and kibbutzim in Israel's North and South. She brings gifts to injured soldiers and to those who have returned home and need support as well. Seagal was unfamiliar with fundraising and non-profit work, yet there were, and still are so many needs, and she is determined to do whatever it takes. The people she has helped refer to her as their Ima, and they feel taken care of, just like her own children.
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