Since the October 7 attack, when Ariel and Kfir Bibas were abducted to Gaza alongside their mother Shiri, the family has become a symbol of Israeli anguish and perhaps even an emblem of the entire war.
On Thursday, as Israel received three dead captives who were presumed to be theirs, social media users discovered an old post by Shiri in the popular Facebook group "Mamtzchik" (a forum used by parents to share insights and advice on children), stirring profound emotions among readers. The innocent post has acquired a haunting resonance: "The heart breaks."
The post, written approximately three and a half years ago, captures what seemed like an ordinary parenting moment – a young child struggling with oversized shoes. "And today in our corner of 'Guess the child's age': spending an hour in an argument because he wants to wear sandals that are two sizes too small," Shiri wrote then, describing how he would cry out "smaaaall, tinyyyy" when made to wear shoes that were too big.
Now, with the all-but-confirmed fate of her children's fate – abducted as toddlers alongside their mother – the innocent post carries a devastating weight. Users who discovered it found themselves deeply moved. "The heart breaks," one comment read, while numerous others shared the post with a singular plea: "Bring them home."
