Dana’s Story – Victims of Terror

Mum of 6, Dana, lost her husband on October 7

On October 7, Dana Cohen’s husband, Aviad, was tragically killed while heroically defending their neighbouring village, leaving Dana and their six children to face unimaginable loss. 

The entire Shlomit community, including Dana’s family, was evacuated and spent five months in a hotel near Jerusalem. Despite many safety challenges, they chose to return home to honour their loved ones, rebuild, and find solace in their strong communal bonds.

Dana’s connection to Keren Hayesod-UIA began with immediate support from the Victims of Terror Fund and continues through the Communities2Gether project, which provides tailored assistance including financial aid, psychological counselling, and community rebuilding initiatives. 

Both Dana’s family and the wider Shlomit community are rebuilding their lives in honour of those they have lost, resuming daily activities, restoring homes, and leaning on one another. KH-UIA remains committed to their recovery providing ongoing resources to ensure the community’s long-term survival and growth.

When Dana Cohen and her family moved to Shlomit, a pioneering community near the Gaza border, they planted roots with hope and resilience. Today, that same resilience sustains them as they rebuild their lives following the devastating events of October 7, 2023.

Hear Dana’s Story | UIA’s Communities2Gether Program, part of the Fund for the Victims of Terror

On that fateful morning, Dana’s husband, Aviad, a member of Shlomit’s security team, received an urgent call. Terrorists had infiltrated the nearby village of Pri-Gan, which lacked its own trained defenders. After reassuring Dana and their six children, Aviad left to assist. “If there is a Jew who needs you, and you are able to help, then you should,” he had always said. Dana’s final words to him were, “Take care of yourself.” She now reflects that “If I had known this would be the last goodbye it would have looked very different.” Tragically, Aviad was killed whilst heroically saving many lives from terrorists. His death has left Dana and their 6 children to face unimaginable loss.

The effects of the terror on that day did not end there. The entire Shlomit community was evacuated as the attacks unfolded. Residents, including Dana and her children, were relocated to a hotel near Jerusalem, where they remained for five months. While the decision to return was difficult, Dana explained why it was necessary.

We are four widowed families, bound by loss yet united in strength. This is our home, and despite the pain, we will continue to live; in honor of our husbands and our duty to Israel. 

How the UIA supported Communities2Gether project is helping survivors like Dana

Dana’s connection to Keren Hayesod-UIA began almost immediately after the attack. The Victims of Terror Fund provides critical assistance to families within 48 hours of such tragedies. But her connection to KH-UIA did not end there – Shlomit is one of several communities benefiting from the Communities2Gether project, an initiative launched by Keren Hayesod-UIA, The Jewish Agency for Israel, local municipalities, and the Tekuma Authority. This project provides tailored support to help families like Dana’s rebuild their lives and communities. For Dana, the partnership has been transformative, offering her family psychological counselling, financial aid, and tools to navigate their grief. “I want to thank Keren Hayesod-UIA for choosing our community to partner with in the rebuild. Thank you for believing in us and our growth after everything we have been through. Thank you to the Jews in Diaspora who do whatever they can to help us. Your connection with us gives us strength and builds our resilience,” Dana shared. She added, “Every time I feel this unity in our nation, I know that my husband did not die for nothing. He died for something great, for our resilience as people. For our togetherness. This real connection across our entire nation gives me strength.”

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Dana’s determination is a shining light as her community recovers from October 7

Through personal resilience and the unwavering support of her community, Dana is determined to honour Aviad’s memory. Her family has begun to adapt to a new reality, finding strength in each other and their community. Slowly, they are resuming daily routines, reconnecting with the land, and finding solace in their shared bond with fellow residents. Dana said this, with tears in her eyes as explosions can be heard overhead while we were interviewing her.  

The wider Shlomit community, too, is rebuilding. Returning residents have resumed agricultural activities, restored homes, and fostered mutual support. The collective efforts of the community reflect a deep determination to restore normalcy and ensure their survival, Keren Hayesod-UIA remains committed to this journey. Future plans include continued support through Communities2Gether, focusing on infrastructure rebuilding, psychological services, and economic development. By providing these resources, the organisation aims to ensure that communities like Shlomit can not only survive but thrive.

Dana’s story is one of immense pain and incredible resilience. Her determination to rebuild, supported by her community and organisations like Keren Hayesod-UIA, is a testament to the enduring spirit of  Am Yisrael. Together, they are choosing life in the face of loss, proving that even in the darkest times, unity and hope can pave the way forward. 

Communities2Gether is a 3-year rehabilitation project aimed at rebuilding and restoring the resilience of 10 of the Kibbutzim and Moshavim in Israel’s South that were heavily impacted by the October 7 massacre. 

Learn more about Communities2Gether and how UIA is supporting the rehabilitation and rebuild of communities in Israel’s South: