Someone to Hug: Four-Legged Canine Friends Provide Comfort

A week before he was killed in a terrorist attack at the Allenby Crossing with Jordan in September 2025, IDF Sgt. Oran Hershko, 20, was traveling in Greece with his father. He created an AI image of a golden retriever puppy sitting in his room and wrote to his family, “Is it too much to ask for a golden?”

A few months after his death, a dog named Goldie, of the exact breed and color he loved, arrived at the family home in Tel Mond in central Israel. “It was like a kind of legacy he left,” says his mother, Michal.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, thousands of bereaved families have been added to the circle of grief in Israel. Alongside financial aid and support workshops, the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) sought to find an additional response — one that enters the home and assists families in their mourning. The organization turned to the Therapeutic Riding and Canine Institute (TRCI) in Tel Mond, and together they created a first-of-its-kind project in Israel: Kelev L’Derech (“A Dog for the Journey”) — to provide therapeutic dogs for bereaved families.

“We have Mocha, a shih tzu that Oran loved very much,” shared Michal Hershko. “When FIDF approached us, my husband Avi and I decided that this time we would take a large dog. That had been the dream of Oran and his sisters. We wanted a big dog that you can feel its presence when you hug it, something with weight to fill that void. Today, we feel Goldie’s presence. It’s a grounding experience and provides a sense of security.”

Michal always visits Oran’s grave with Goldie. “She comes there with us, lies patiently by the grave, and is simply present. She also wants to play and needs to go out, so you can’t neglect her. She demands attention, which forces us into a healthy routine.”

Dana, another mother in the program, lost her husband Ofer in a shooting attack in northern Samaria. Through the project, she received Monty, a medium-sized hypoallergenic poodle. “He is truly charming, brings joy and interest into the home. The kids love him, and sometimes it feels like he fills a bit of the emptiness I feel in the evenings.”