First Wedding Since October 7 Held at Kibbutz Kerem Shalom
Nearly three years after the October 7 attack, a wedding was held Thursday at Kibbutz Kerem Shalom for the first time since the community was evacuated following the attack.
Sivan, who was raised in Kerem Shalom, and her partner, Meir, chose to hold their wedding at the kibbutz swimming pool near the Gaza border, surrounded by family, friends and community residents.
The wedding marked the first large-scale celebration at the kibbutz since October 7. Some residents who attended have only recently returned to live in Kerem Shalom after spending an extended period away from their homes.
The couple specifically chose to marry in the community where Sivan grew up, turning the celebration into a meaningful occasion for residents as the kibbutz continues rebuilding and returning to normal life.
The Kerem Shalom administration described the decision as a powerful expression of the community’s continued connection to the area and its determination to rebuild. The wedding took place just weeks before the third anniversary of October 7, a period the community said reflects both the pain of what happened and the hope for the future.