He and Limor Shem-Tov celebrated their engagement with 150 friends and family members Monday night at the Machon Meir yeshiva in Jerusalem in the presence of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, who spoke of the possibility of building from ashes even when there does not appear to be any way of doing so. Her parents also attended the engagement event.

"I have two options, to collapse or continue living. I have chosen life! My new home is an addition and not a replacement of the home that was destroyed. I am like a tree whose branches were cut off and now they are growing again," Hatuel said.

Limor Shem-Tov, 32, is a Jerusalem occupational therapist and a seventh generation Israeli whom friends said demonstrates a deep understanding, enabling her to share Hatuel's pain and attempt to heal from the emotional scars of the tragedy.

She and Hatuel met through an organization that works with finding mates for terror victims.