The devastating loss of parents during the October 7 attacks has left many children facing profound challenges as they navigate life without their primary caregivers. At the Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference on Thursday, Chantal Belzberg, co-founder of OneFamily Fund, addressed the ongoing struggles these orphaned children and their surviving family members endure.

Belzberg emphasized the enduring impact of such trauma, noting that the lives of affected children are irrevocably divided between their experiences before and after the attacks. OneFamily Fund’s approach involves providing long-term support rather than limiting aid to the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. “What OneFamily is doing is walking with them through the after, and remaining there – for a lifetime,” she said.

Highlighting the complex dynamics within grieving families, Belzberg referenced the case of a 10-year-old girl who lost both parents and subsequently moved in with relatives who were also mourning the death of their own child. OneFamily maintains close engagement with these families, monitoring the children’s emotional well-being, educational progress, and household relationships. The organization also facilitates retreats, support groups, and youth gatherings designed to connect orphans who share similar experiences.

The program’s objective is to accompany these children through critical life milestones such as graduations and marriages, extending support as they build new lives in the wake of immense loss.

Sharing his personal story, Gal Goren, who lost both parents in the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz, recounted the harrowing events. He spoke with his mother shortly before she was captured and later killed in captivity; his father was also taken alive before being murdered. The experience forced Goren and his siblings into premature adulthood, confronting responsibilities far beyond their years.

Goren described OneFamily as providing him with a space to reclaim his identity beyond grief. Currently studying social work, he reflected on healing as a process that does not erase trauma but allows individuals to find meaning alongside it. “When you lose both of your parents, you suddenly have to be the responsible one. OneFamily gives you someone to see you, to understand you, and a place to be,” he said.

Through its sustained commitment, OneFamily Fund aims to help orphaned survivors and their families cope with the enduring consequences of loss, fostering resilience and connection amid ongoing hardship.