"Bereaved Families Don't Need Memorial Day to Remember"

Today (Wednesday), on the Memorial Day for Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism, Guy Zu-Aretz and Yael Bar Zohar unveil their personal initiative: a new song composed from texts written by Ilai Baram, may his memory be blessed - Zu-Aretz's nephew, who was murdered in the massacre in the southern settlements.

Since the terrible tragedy, the couple carries Ilai's memory daily. But on the day when an entire country gathers in sorrow, they wish to remind that it is an ongoing journey. "We don’t need a Memorial Day to remember," the two wrote online. "We remember him every moment – at the empty family table, during holidays, birthdays, and especially – in the silences in between."

Ilai, 27 at the time of his death, was a radiant and vibrant personality. He loved to help others and wrote daily in his notebook words filled with deep insights about life. "We found his words after his death," Bar Zohar shared. "Words that weren’t meant to be published, only to accompany him on his life journey. But when we read them – we knew: they cannot remain locked in a notebook."

In collaboration with creators Avi Ohayon and Matan Dror, the song "Through the Fragments of the Heart" was born - a musical composition of Ilai’s words, written in his own handwriting. "When someone beloved is taken from us cruelly, there is no one way to mourn," the two conclude. "Through the songs, perhaps we’ll succeed in reminding the world what a great light Ilai was. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll manage to breathe again."