BRUCHIN, SAMARIA – In a moving ceremony held Tuesday morning at the Gez family home in the community of Bruchin, the name of the newborn son of the late Tzeela Gez was publicly announced: Ravid Chaim—a name his mother had chosen before she was murdered in a recent terror attack.
Due to his fragile medical condition, the baby has not yet undergone a traditional brit milah (circumcision), but the family decided to proceed with the naming ceremony in the presence of close friends, relatives, and community leaders.
Ravid Chaim ben Tzeela: A Name, A Prayer
The ceremony followed morning prayers at the family’s home and was attended by Rabbi Meir Hilvitz, the spiritual leader of Bruchin, and Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council. Attendees joined in singing the verse: “A Song of Ascents: I lift my eyes to the mountains—where will my help come from?” (Psalm 121)
The family has asked the public to pray for the baby’s recovery, referring to him as Ravid Chaim ben Tzeela.
Mourning in the Shadow of Protest
On Monday, the family held their shivah (mourning) at the site where the attack occurred, transforming their grief into protest against Israel’s current security policies in the West Bank. Chananel Gez, Tzeela’s husband—who was wounded in the attack—spoke emotionally: “We want to act so that no one else ever has to endure the suffering we’re going through. This is pain beyond words. We’re asking the Prime Minister to ensure this never happens again. Am Yisrael Chai—we are one people, one heart.”
This Could Have Been Prevented
Tzeela’s sister, Dolev Aviuv, criticized the failure to stop the terrorist earlier: “This wasn’t his first attempt. Or his second. Or even his third. He had tried to carry out attacks before. Someone should have stopped him. This could have been prevented.”
Council head Yossi Dagan vowed to respond with strength: “In her memory, we will build new communities. We will fight louder, stronger—to bring light into the darkness.”
More Than a Slogan—It’s a Mission
Speaking at the naming ceremony, Rabbi Hilvitz of Bruchin offered spiritual strength: “Tzeela’s spirit is still with us, soft and silent—but powerful. ‘By your blood, live’ isn’t just a slogan. It’s a mission.”
