Some places we visit simply to satisfy our hunger, while others leave an indelible mark on our souls.

For nearly two decades, my return trips to my homeland were dedicated to typical vacations, spending time with family, catching up with friends, and touring historic landmarks. But everything changed after October 7; now, these journeys are permanently shaped by a need to learn, remember, show appreciation, and extend a warm embrace to families experiencing profound grief. It was this new purpose that led our family to stop at “Sufian,” a restaurant in Maghar. We weren’t drawn there solely by its exceptional culinary reputation, but because we wanted to pause, offer our deepest gratitude, and honor a family whose world was shattered by loss, yet who continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience.

From the very first moment, we felt that we were not merely customers, but rather guests in someone’s home. Sufian’s father welcomed us with a smile, the kind of smile that only someone carrying immense pain knows how to wear. He sat beside us and began to talk about his son, as his tears mingled with our own.

Sufian Dagash was a combat engineering soldier. He was a young man with a bright future ahead of him. He was offered a spot in the officers’ training course, and he had dreams of studying, integrating into the tech world, and........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)