Yael Shevach, the widow of terror victim Rav Raziel Shevach Hy”d, suffered another heartbreaking tragedy over Shabbos when her home in Chavat Gilad was completely destroyed in a massive wildfire that tore through the Shomron community. Shortly after Shabbos ended, she shared a brief but emotional message revealing the extent of the devastation.

“I have nothing to say, and I have no home,” Shevach wrote in a deeply personal social media post. “Thank you, everyone, for your concern.”

The blaze broke out during Shabbos as part of a massive wildfire that swept through Chavat Gilad, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The flames engulfed 13 homes, as well as a garage and a lumber storage facility, after spreading deep into the residential area. Security and emergency personnel evacuated all residents as the fire rapidly approached the homes. Shevach and her children escaped safely before the flames reached their house, but the family lost virtually all of their belongings.

Shevach is the widow of Rav Raziel Shevach Hy”d, a beloved resident of Chavat Gilad who was murdered in a terrorist shooting near the entrance to the community in January 2018. Since his death, she has become a prominent voice in Israeli media and public life, choosing to remain in Chavat Gilad with her children as an expression of resilience and continuity.

Following Shabbos, Shevach described the tragedy in a short post that captured the magnitude of her loss.

“Good week to those who can afford one. There was a fire, a fire. The house is gone. We’re okay. Thank you, everyone, for your concern. I have nothing to say, and I have no home,” she wrote.

The fire began Shabbos afternoon near Mitzpe Yishai in the community of Kedumim. Firefighters from the Shomron Fire Station initially succeeded in stopping the flames before they reached the first row of homes in Kedumim, preventing injuries and major property damage there. However, powerful winds quickly drove the fire toward nearby Chavat Gilad, where it spread with tremendous speed.

During the lengthy firefighting operation, two firefighters were injured—one moderately and one lightly—and were transported to a hospital for medical treatment. A resident who had been evacuated also suffered minor injuries after collapsing during the incident. In addition to the homes that were destroyed, one fire engine was completely consumed by the flames, while another armored firefighting vehicle sustained extensive damage from the intense heat.

In recent years, Shevach has become one of the Religious Zionist community’s most recognizable public figures, known for her outspoken views and remarkable strength. Earlier this year, after learning that her husband’s murderer would be released as part of a hostage agreement, she drew widespread attention when she said, “If he is the price for bringing the hostages home—then with love.”

Shevach has also experienced moments of extraordinary kindness amid personal hardship. On one occasion, her wedding ring—which she had continued wearing after her husband’s murder—was lost at Ein Prat and was eventually recovered following an extensive search by Israel Nature and Parks Authority inspectors.

Now, after the fire reduced her family’s home and possessions to ashes, Shevach and her children face yet another painful chapter as they begin the difficult task of rebuilding their lives once again.

{Matzav.com}