Itai Svirsky Life Story Itai was the third child of Rafi Svirsky, a member of the “Abir” Nahal group, and Orit Sela, daughter of Aviva and Bamik, who were among the founders of the kibbutz. They raised Itai’s elder siblings Meirav and Yonatan in Givatayim, but returned to the kibbutz after it no longer practiced communal sleeping in a children’s home and a few months later Itai was born on Be'eri. He was followed four years later by the family’s youngest son, Yuval. The young Svirsky family was committed to the kibbutz with all the passion of the founding generation, but at the same time the Svirsky’s approached kibbutz life with critical and creative thinking and were open to change. Rafi and Orit both played central roles on the kibbutz; Orit was part of the management of the printing press and was also head of welfare, while Rafi was involved on the economic side. Itai’s devotion and his desire to always help others, were nurtured by the family environment he grew up in. Itai was a curious and sensitive child, with golden curls and a shy smile. In photos from his childhood, one can see his affectionate look and his observant gaze, full of sensitivity towards those around him. From a young age, he was an outstanding athlete: in Be’eri’s youth basketball team, playing tennis with coach Dov and in soccer (a great talent who also had a talent for getting injured in games). His classmates from the “Kitat Tapuach” recall that he was in a league of his own and “ran rings around everyone on the court.” Beside his talent and his enjoyment of sports, Itai was also an avid fan of Maccabi Tel Aviv and would spend time with his family and friends watching soccer games. In his teens he developed a love for music. He took voice training and liked to play piano and guitar; he particularly liked Evyatar Banai and Amir Lev. Itai’s sister, Meirav, describes the family as a “house full of boys” with brotherly arguments that were a way of expressing their care for one another. Grandpa Bamik and Grandma Aviva’s house was a second home for Itai, a place where he could be himself without questions or demands. He would spend almost every afternoon with them - with a plate of fruit and Grandma’s cookies - until his parents returned home from work. On Saturdays, with all the cousins playing on the grass, Grandpa would make schnitzel and salad. Another home where Itai would spend a lot of time was Grandma Aviva’s apartment facing Habima Theater in Tel Aviv, where the family would often go on the weekend and where they would spend summer holidays every year with all the attractions of the big city. They would never miss a meal at Aharoni’s Chinese restaurant, Itai’s favorite. From a young age, Itai was engaged with life’s philosophical questions and matters of the human soul. In high school, he studied Jewish thought, and enjoyed the debates and the deep and open discussions about fundamental questions of life. Itai would conduct philosophical debates everywhere, all the time, on every topic under the sun. He would do so with an innocent, almost child-like curiosity, and a willingness to truly listen to his interlocutor and learn new things. His philosophical tendencies were also introspective; he would spend a lot of time contemplating whether he was happy, whether he was in the right place - he was always in a process of self-searching. Itai’s conscription was delayed after he suffered an injury playing sports and in the end, he served in the Israeli Air Force Ground Control Unit. After completing his military service, Itai traveled to India and after returning to Israel split his time between Be’eri and Tel Aviv, before eventually deciding to make his home in the city. In 2010, he began studying for a BA in psychology and philosophy at Tel Aviv University. His search to be in exactly the right place extended to his studies as well. Itai switched philosophy for economics and economics for a multi-disciplinary BA in humanities, after which he graduated from an MBA program. Alongside his academic studies, Itai kept up his personal development and his search for the right path. It was this search that brought him, via his mother Aviva and his Aunt Osnat, to the SATYA therapy method, first as a practitioner, and, over the past year, he took a teacher training course and began to coach others. Friends and relatives with whom he practiced during his studies said that SATYA helped him bring to the fore his incredible ability to truly take an interest in people, to listen to them and reflect what he heard. Itai excelled and it seemed that for the first time he had found his vocation. Through the SATYA method he continued to take additional courses, among other things in writing and business management. Through the natural curiosity that always characterized him, he also discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which became an integral part of his life over the past two and a half years. At first, he was a little put off by the intensity and aggressiveness of the martial art, but with time he overcame this and his sporting talent shone. Itai would train four times a week with great enjoyment, and would integrate Thai boxing, MMA and other more aggressive forms of martial arts into his workout. As always, Itai formed close relationships and was well-loved and became a member of the family at the club where he trained. More than anything though, Itai loved to spend time with his immediate and extended family, and was there for them, with care and concern, no matter what they needed. He had a warm and close relationship with his uncles and cousins and later with their children as well. For Meirav and Dan’s boys, Keinan and Eilam, he was the perfect uncle, the one who could always be relied on to be there to help and to be present in full and attentive down to the last detail. Yuval and Rotem’s son, Dror, although young, was fortunate enough to spend some time with his loving and dedicated uncle. Itai diligently and lovingly helped his father Rafi after he suffered a heart attack; Itai would take Rafi’s dogs out for long walks and the two of them would spend a lot of precious “Tel Aviv time” together. Over the past year, Itai also spent a lot of “Tel Aviv time” with his brother Yonatan and their time together helped them develop common interests and deepened their relationship. And of course, Itai had a special relationship with Grandma Aviva, who he would come to visit on the kibbutz almost every weekend. He would let Gracie, Grandma Aviva’s caregiver, take a few hours off to rest, and they would spend quality time together - grandmother and grandson, just like when he was a child. Itai had recently even considered returning to the kibbutz so that he could be close to her. For Itai and his siblings, the heart of the family was always Orit’s home, which was always full of her warmth and light. There, she would bring them all together with infinite maternal love and care. On Friday October 6, Itai came to visit the family in Be'eri, as he did almost every weekend. The cruel attack on the kibbutz caught him at Orit’s house. They shut themselves inside the safe room with the sound of gunfire and cries in Arabic all around. The family kept in touch via their WhatsApp group, but slowly, one after the other, they all stopped sending messages: first Rafi, then Itai, and finally Orit. She sent a heart, and then another. Orit and Rafi were murdered in Be’eri on October 7. Itai’s fate was unclear. Later the family received indications that he had been abducted to Gaza. Then, after 50 days, the family received a sign of life from hostages who had been with him in Gaza and were released. They recalled how he had witnessed his mother’s murder and how he had asked them to contact his sister Meirav and ask her to do everything to get him released. Meirav, Itai’s brothers and the extended family fought to the last moment to get Itai back alive. But their calls fell on deaf ears. Itai was murdered in Gaza, after 99 days in captivity. Itai’s painful death was a stark contrast to his life: He was a people person, full of humanity and compassion; sensitive and gentle, open and curious, a peacemaker always looking to be benevolent and see the other. During his SATYA training, he was asked what kind of coach he wanted to be. His answer was “Relaxed, humble, compassionate and with a sense of humor.” That was the person he wanted to be, that was who he was, and that is how we shall remember him. May his memory be a blessing. Back 17.02.1985 - 13.01.2024 38 years old

Read about each one Kibbutz Be'eri mourns its victims of murder in the October 7 terrorist attack NO ONE IS FORGOTTEN HE "Know that time and enemies, wind and water, will not eliminate you. You will endure, made of letters. It is not a trifle. Something, nonetheless, will remain of you" [Haim Gouri] Kibbutz Be'eri victims on Saturday 7/10 Yossi Aptalon 77 years old 21.04.1946 - 07.10.2023 Haggi Avni 50 years old 26.09.1973 - 07.10.2023 Carmel Bachar 15 years old 04.01.2008 - 07.10.2023 Dana Bachar 48 years old 30.01.1975 - 07.10.2023 Geula Bachar 80 years old 10.10.1942 - 07.10.2023 Mazi Bachar 63 years old 24.12.1959 - 07.10.2023 Ma'ayan Bar 65 years old 23.02.1958 - 07.10.2023 Yuval Bar 65 years old 22.03.1958 - 07.10.2023 Yoram Bar Sinai 75 years old 25.07.1948 - 07.10.2023 Idan Baruch 20 years old 16.08.2003 - 07.10.2023 Sahar Baruch 25 years old 25.11.1998 - 08.12.2023 Hava Ben Ami 78 years old 16.02.1945 - 07.10.2023 Oron Bira 54 years old 29.04.1969 - 07.10.2023 Tahel Bira 15 years old 19.10.2007 - 07.10.2023 Tair Bira 22 years old 28.12.2000 - 07.10.2023 Tal Bira 62 years old 27.12.1961 - 07.10.2023 Yasmin Bira 51 years old 04.11.1971 - 07.10.2023 Gil Boyum 55 years old 06.02.1968 - 07.10.2023 Inbar Boyum 22 years old 04.12.2000 - 07.10.2023 Grace Cabrera 45 years old (Nursing Assistant) 23.12.1978 - 07.10.2023 Rotem Calderon 67 years old 14.10.1956 - 07.10.2023 Mila Cohen 9 month old 29.12.2022 - 07.10.2023 Ohad Cohen 43 years old 10.06.1980 - 07.10.2023 Pesi Cohen 68 years old 06.03.1955 - 07.10.2023 Yona Cohen 73 years old 18.01.1950 - 07.10.2023 Adi Dagan 68 years old 03.06.1955 - 07.10.2023 Alon Even 16 years old 28.03.2007 - 07.10.2023 Chen Even 46 years old 15.07.1977 - 07.10.2023 Ido Even 14 years old 14.05.2009 - 07.10.2023 Rinat Even 44 years old 25.08.1979 - 07.10.2023 Marcelle Freilich 64 years old 27.4.1959 - 07.10.2023 Yona Fricker 69 years old 04.08.1954 - 07.10.2023 Carmel Gat 40 years old 16.05.1984 - 29.08.2024 Kineret Gat 68 years old 07.11.1955 - 07.10.2023 Ayelet Godard 63 years old 28.06.1960 - 07.10.2023 Meni Godard 73 years old 15.08.1950 - 07.10.2023 Eitan Hadad 43 years old 04.04.1980 - 07.10.2023 Narkis Hand 54 years old 02.02.1969 - 07.10.2023 Avshal Haran 66 years old 15.06.1957 - 07.10.2023 Zehava Heker 68 years old 13.12.1954 - 07.10.2023 Ze’ev Heker 72 years old 27.02.1951 - 07.10.2023 Ma’ayana Hershkovitz 65 years old 28.02.1958 - 07.10.2023 Noah Hershkovitz 68 years old 11.05.1955 - 07.10.2023 Avia Hetzroni 69 years old 13.08.1954 - 07.10.2023 Ayala (Aylus) Hetzroni 73 years old 10.06.1950 - 07.10.2023 Liel Hetzroni 12 years old 6.4.2011 - 07.10.2023 Yanai Hetzroni 12 years old 06.04.2011 - 07.10.2023 Dror Kaplun 68 years old 24.07.1955 - 07.10.2023 Shoshana Karasanti 86 years old 30.11.1937 - 07.10.2023 David Karol 72 years old 14.09.1951 - 07.10.2023 Ofra Keidar 70 years old 02.09.1953 - 07.10.2023 Sami Keidar 70 years old 27.01.1953 - 07.10.2023 Eviatar (Tari) Kipnis 65 years old 24.02.1958 - 07.10.2023 Lilach Kipnis 60 years old 09.08.1963 - 07.10.2023 Itzik Kozin 72 years old 07.03.1951 - 07.10.2023 Arik Kraunik 54 years old 02.08.1969 - 07.10.2023 Hana Kritzman 88 years old 27.03.1935 - 21.10.2023 Dr. Daniel Levi Ludmir 34 years old (on-call doctor) 16.01.1989 - 07.10.2023 Rony Levy 80 years old 14.09.1943 - 07.10.2023 Igor Losev 59 years old 17.11.1964 - 07.10.2023 Marina Losev 61 years old 06.12.1962 - 07.10.2023 Galit Majzner-Carbone 66 years old 20.9.1957 - 07.10.2023 Amit Mann 22 years old (Paramedic) 19.02.2001 - 07.10.2023 Yarin Marie Peled 20 years old 08.04.2003 - 07.10.2023 Ablum Milles 80 years old 14.08.1943 - 07.10.2023 Avi Mor 61 years old 27.08.1962 - 07.10.2023 Rafael (Rafi) Mordo 84 years old 28.11.1938 - 07.10.2023 Mordechai Naveh 76 years old 26.06.1947 - 07.10.2023 Adrienne Neta 66 years old 30.08.1957 - 07.10.2023 Sylvia Ohayon 59 years old 13.08.1964 - 07.10.2023 Dror Or 48 years old 10.01.1975 - 07.10.2023 Yonat Or 50 years old 05.11.1972 - 07.10.2023 Yonatan Rapoport 41 years old 16.04.1982 - 07.10.2023 Anola Retnianka 49 years old (Nursing Assistant) 24.05.1974 - 07.10.2023 Dor Rider 22 years old (Temporary worker) 12.11.2001 - 07.10.2023 Lianne Sharabi 48 years old 20.2.1975 - 07.10.2023 Noya Sharabi 16 years old 01.10.2007 - 07.10.2023 Yahel Sharabi 13 years old 03.10.2010 - 07.10.2023 Yosi Sharabi 53 years old 16.09.1970 - 14.01.2024 Ran Sheffer 48 years old 22.02.1975 - 07.10.2023 Ziv Shopen 56 years old 23.10.1967 - 07.10.2023 Noy Shosh 37 years old 12.12.1986 - 07.10.2023 Vivian Silver 74 years old 2.2.1949 - 07.10.2023 Hannah Siton 73 years old (Pesi Cohen's sister) 30.08.1950 - 07.10.2023 Tal Siton 49 years old (Pesi Cohen's nephew) 20.04.1974 - 07.10.2023 Yitzhak Siton 76 years old (Pesi Cohen's brother-in-law) 12.06.1947 - 07.10.2023 Tami Suchman 76 years old 26.01.1947 - 07.10.2023 Itai Svirsky 38 years old 17.02.1985 - 13.01.2024 Orit Svirsky 70 years old 20.07.1953 - 07.10.2023 Rafi Svirsky 71 years old 10.03.1952 - 07.10.2023 Lior Tarshansky 16 years old 24.10.2007 - 07.10.2023 Paul Vince Castelvi 43 years old (Nursing Assistant) 21.12.1980 - 07.10.2023 Ilan Weiss 56 years old 03.11.1967 - 07.10.2023 Matti Weiss 69 years old 08.02.1954 - 07.10.2023 Shmulik Weiss 65 years old 05.11.1957 - 07.10.2023 Yehudit Weiss 65 years old 13.4.1958 - 07.10.2023 Amir Weiss 69 years old 08.02.1954 - 07.10.2023 Sujith Yatawara 48 years old (Nursing Assistant) 31.07.1975 - 07.10.2023 Yehudit Yitzhaki 76 years old 21.09.1947 - 07.10.2023 Tchelet Za’arur-Fishbain 18 years old 30.06.2005 - 07.10.2023 Shachar Zemach 39 years old 17.04.1984 - 07.10.2023 Haim Zohar 72 years old 29.11.1950 - 07.10.2023

Galit Majzner-Carbone Life Story Galit, whose given name was Ginnette, was born in Sydney, Australia to Simon and Marinette Majzner. Following the Six-Day War, her fervent Zionist parents immigrated to Israel in 1968, settling right from the start in Kibbutz Be'eri. Galit, the eldest, and her younger brother Danny, born four years later, were both natives of Australia. Her younger sister, Kinneret, was born in Israel. Galit joined "Kitat Rimon" with the other children on the kibbutz, but her soul often drifted into a world of its own, with English books, music, and movies. She lived in her own world but created meaningful relationships with many people in the community who held similar feelings of being a part of, but not quite belonging. A “girl-woman” with a compassionate soul, she was empathetic, served as a confidante, was supportive, while acknowledging the uniqueness in each person she encountered. Galit served in the Air Force in the Ramon Air-Force Base during her military service. After the army, like many others, she went on to a year of service on Kibbutz Yitav (now a moshav) in the Jordan Valley. Following her additional year of service, she traveled to Australia. Upon her return, she settled back on Kibbutz Be'eri and joined various branches of work. At some point during those years, she pursued studies at Seminar Hakibbutzim College. In her mid-twenties, she met Alex Carbone, who came from Italy to volunteer on the kibbutz. They soon became a couple, and later, had three children together: Maia, the eldest, Tom, the middle child, and Nicole, the youngest. Only after the birth of their second child did the couple officially marry. They divorced after 20 years together. Over the years, Galit worked in various branches of the kibbutz. For many years, she worked in the printing house, and before her retirement, she returned to her great love – books - serving as the kibbutz librarian. In recent years, her four grandchildren were a continuous source of pride, and provided her with great joy. She was a loving grandmother and took tremendous pleasure in spending time with them. On Saturday, October 7, 2023, when the terrorists burst into her home, she was able to speak with Nicole until the very last moment, uttering her parting words just before she was murdered. Galit will be remembered by the members of the kibbutz and other friends and as a wise woman with a sense of humor, humility, and kindness, whose smile left its mark in the hearts of so many people. She was a true heroine. May her memory be a blessing. Back 20.9.1957 - 07.10.2023 66 years old

Yuval Bar Life Story Yuval was born in Nahalat Yehuda, on 22 March 1958, to Yechiel and Rachel Khubara, and he was brother to Arnon. His father, Yechiel, was born in Sana’a, Yemen, and Rachel was the daughter of Yemenite immigrants. When Yuval was three years old, the family moved to a public housing project in Holon, where he enjoyed his childhood. There, children would eagerly await four o’clock in the afternoon, when they were allowed to rush outdoors to play and roam around the neighbourhood. Children of all ethnicities played soccer together until dusk hid the ball from their sight. Yuval was a ‘numbers kid.’ When he returned from school, he would quickly eat and do his homework, then sit with his legs straddled in front of the wall, throwing a red plastic ball against it, and counting the throws – much to the neighbours’ annoyance. Once, he counted 777 throws. He was competitive and loved to win games, even in the throwing and counting game he played by himself. Yuval arrived at Kibbutz Be’eri just days before the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, at the end of ninth grade. His was a difficult story; his parents had separated and, as a result, Yuval and Arnon were also separated from one another. Despite the upheaval, they managed to keep in touch throughout their lives. On the kibbutz, Yuval joined the group for "yaldei hutz" – or children who came to the kibbutz for a more stable environment - ‘Kitat Alon’ or the ‘Indians,’ as it was known locally. At that time, he grew his hair long, and his afro hairstyle became a thing. Despite his hippie appearance, he adapted well to his particularly proper adoptive family, Hassida and Buchsi. Surprisingly, he felt comfortable within the educational framework, and kibbutz life suited him. He especially loved music and performing and singing, and as a teenager he had a record collection that included albums by Kaveret , Neil Young, Dire Straits, and Pink Floyd. He was always listening to music. Later, when he sat in the office as an accountant, one could still tell he was there by the loud music coming from the office. Yuval was a sports enthusiast who loved all types of sports. He followed the NBA closely and was a sworn fan of local sports - swimming, soccer, basketball, tennis, ping pong, walking – you name it, and he made sure to report on events and competitions in the sports diary he wrote. Naturally, he drove his children to all the sports clubs they participated in and encouraged them to succeed. During his military service, he served in intelligence. When he returned to the kibbutz, he worked in agriculture until he went to pursue his studies. He would often take his children on the combine, the cotton picker, or the tractor. He was a very reliable father, and would also resolve any issues wisely. He was a family man who also took an interest in history. He researched in depth the history of Maayan’s family in Hungary, and his own family’s history in Yemen and in Israel. Yuval was a diligent and enthusiastic worker. He worked seven days a week in the kibbutz’s accounting department, but that was not enough for him. Over the last 15 years, he initiated and managed Yuval’s Recycling Project, which became the official recycling project of Kibbutz Be’eri. It started with Yuval on the green tractor, organizing bins for waste-sorting. It continued with the washing of the green bins. Then he continued, putting in place different coloured bins for different types of waste, bins for glass and cardboard. He then began teaching kibbutz members to separate organic waste, which he transported to the area of the old dairy, and then used it to create compost, which was distributed at the bin stations for reuse in members’ gardens. At first, he did this alone, then he inspired the younger generation to join him – youngsters from the kibbutz, and those from other kibbutzim who were working for a period in Be’eri. Dealing with bins was not just an ideology and a personal mission for Yuval, and it has already set an example for other settlements too – how a single individual managed to reduce the number of waste hauls from 101 containers to only 7. Meanwhile, Yuval developed what he called ‘the kingdom’ – the collection of junk dumped at the bin stations – mattresses, toys, books, old ovens, machine parts. These were arranged according to the old and abandoned model of ‘the junkyard,’ which had once been the favourite corner of the yard in every kindergarten in the kibbutz – until the Ministry of Education banned it for safety and insurance reasons. In Yuval’s kingdom, the junkyard was reborn, and in the afternoons, the place buzzed with children and parents. Yuval was decades ahead of the State of Israel. The romance between Ma'ayan and Yuval began in Be’eri, where they studied in parallel classes - Ma'ayan in ‘Rotem ’, and Yuval in ‘Alon ,’ where Tamar was the housemother. Yuval’s adoptive parents were close friends of Tamar and Asaf. But it was only after their discharge from the army that the love between Ma'ayan and Yuval blossomed, when they were both living in the young adults’ neighbourhood. Ma'ayan’s cat climbed a tree and was afraid to come down. Yuval, who was an expert at climbing trees, came to her rescue – and ever since, all members of the family are cat lovers. At their wedding, Ma'ayan was in her eighth month of pregnancy and wore a huge wedding dress. She was focused on creating a warm and cozy home, and on food and baking. Yuval took care of technical and financial matters, while she encouraged going out to have fun. He provided research and depth, and was involved in recycling. She liked to shop. Out of their differences, they wove a complete world together, and countless fine threads bound them together in a close relationship. Both Ma'ayan and Yuval loved to travel, in Israel and abroad. They especially loved Greece and the Greek islands. But they were the ultimate ‘kibbutzniks .’ They never left, nor even considered leaving Be’eri, despite the frequent rocket attacks and the military operations in response – whether they were limited or more major, and not even whenever the security situation escalated. It was their home, the safest place in the world. Their love for Be’eri was great, but even greater was their love for each other, and it defined them in life and in death. On Saturday, October 7th, they died together. Their memory will be carried by their children, their grandchildren, and by all of us. May their memory be blessed. Back 22.03.1958 - 07.10.2023 65 years old

Grace Cabrera Life Story Gracie was born in Maasin, Iloilo City, on Pano Island in the Philippines. She was the third of eight children. Her parents separated when she was little, and her mother struggled to raise her children in poverty. Gracie took many of the household chores upon herself. Despite the responsibilities she shouldered, she was a cheerful and joyous child. Grace entered the workforce at a young age, to help support the family. She worked in Manila, where she met Domingo at church. During their courtship, Grace began working in Hong Kong, and she only returned home to marry him in 2006. Roughly two years later, the couple adopted Benedict, a two-month-old baby who is now fifteen years old. In 2019, Grace was able to fulfill her dream of working in Israel, the Holy Land. She spent one year as a caregiver in Ashkelon, where she met a friend who lived on Be’eri, and that was how she came to the kibbutz and began caring for Aviva Sela. Her bond with Aviva was immediate. Gracie showed appropriate concern, without being bothersome. She knew how to adapt herself to any situation, to be present or fade into the background. They liked to tour around the kibbutz together, whether taking the motorized scooter along the ring road, or the walker to and from the gate. They stopped for frequent rests, and were both always cheerful and smiling, exchanging little gestures that said everything without words. Gracie could predict what Aviva needed or wanted, and Aviva could laugh at everything, including herself. They took their strolls, went to the dining room for socializing and a healthy meal, and sometimes enjoyed simply watching the commotion of kibbutz residents and children. The many branches of the Sela family loved Gracie and appreciated the warm care she provided for Aviva. She quickly became a full member of the tribe. The kibbutz and the Sela family were her paradise. Her work in Israel enabled her to help her siblings, nieces and nephews to earn a higher education, which was her way to give them hope for a better future. Eventually, Gracie managed to bring her youngest sister, Mary Jane, to the kibbutz. They met every single day, had lunch together, and sometimes dinner. Mary Jane would buy the ingredients needed for Gracie to cook comforting Filipino dishes. Gracie was also active in the circle of foreign caregivers on the kibbutz. She was always in the middle of the action, decorating for holiday parties, organizing get-togethers, baking cakes or dishes they missed, bringing everyone together. Life went by pleasantly until October 7. Upon hearing the air-raid sirens, Gracie took Aviva into the safe room, and had time to gather all of Aviva’s medication, just in case. They waited together in the safe room, hoping the incident would end soon. But the terrorists entered the house and turned it into their headquarters. They spent roughly four hours in the house, and later brought in Adi and then Sandra, who was injured, with her two children. Despite being handcuffed and fearful, Gracie got up to help, bringing clothes and water. At around 3 p.m., the terrorists took everyone out of the house and marched them to the road. Shots were fired. Everyone scattered in all directions. From that point on, we have no clear information on what happened. All we know is the end result: Aviva never saw her beloved Gracie again. Sandra managed to get back home and hide in the safe room until the gunfire ended. She found Aviva sitting on the swing in the yard. Gracie was murdered by the terrorists outside the house. Gracie, a native of the Philippines, who was soon to turn 45, was murdered many thousands of kilometers from her home, in a war that was not hers. For her, Be’eri was a place of beauty, love, friendship and compassion. May her memory be a blessing. Back 23.12.1978 - 07.10.2023 45 years old (Nursing Assistant)

Ayelet Godard Life Story Ayelet was a valued educator and fighter for justice, who shaped generations of people and never stopped working for the nation and the country she so loved. Ayelet was born in June, 1960, in Kfar Galim, the daughter of Rachel and Yosskeh Pereg. Yosskeh was one of the founders of Nakhbir (Be’eri’s original name). He died when Ayelet was three, and she and her sisters, Ruthie and Tami, moved with their mother to Kiryat Bialik, where they became a household of strong, determined women of action. Ayelet was an active teenager and a counselor in the local Scouts group. That was where her skills as an educator first blossomed. Her love of people, nature and hiking led her to join the army as a tour guide at Har Ha’Negev Field School. During her service, Ayelet lived in Yamit, in the final years before it was evacuated. Along with her friends, she led tours of both young and old, new recruits and General Staff officers, taking them all over the region, from Sheikh Zuweid and Bardawil Lake in the northern Sinai Desert, to Ali Muntar Hill and the “potters district” in Gaza. She was attentive to the smells, tastes, traditions and stories. She acquired a huge amount of local knowledge, and was able to add context full of humanity to the country’s spectacular mosaic. Her military service led her not only to encounter extraordinary places, but also to meet the love of her life. On one of her trips to the beach, she met Meni, Yamit’s good-looking, charismatic life guard, “the king of the beach.” They quickly became an item, “Meni-and-Ayelet,” and were married on the beach where they’d met. It was the last wedding in Yamit. The young couple wanted to live on the kibbutz, but Ayelet’s mother pressured her to acquire a vocation first. And so they moved to Tel Aviv. Meni worked as a lifeguard on Hilton Beach, and Ayelet studied special education and history at the Kibbutzim College. In 1983, their daughter Mor was born. Her name (Hebrew for ‘myrrh’) alludes to the Spice Route that Ayelet loved. After they moved back to the kibbutz, their children Gal and Bar were born. While raising her family, Ayelet was also a legendary teacher at the school, where each graduating class has a name: Savyon, Ellah and Petel were the groups she taught. She was an exceptional teacher with traditional methods, who brought nature into the classroom and took the children outside frequently. In 1997, she was appointed principal of Nofim, the elementary school. Ayelet integrated the informal education network into the school, including a petting zoo. Everything she touched thrived. Upon moving to the regional school at Ma’aleh Ha’Bsor, she stepped into the role of supervising the “Shin-shin” program members (who commit to a year of community service before they enlist in the army) in the United Kibbutz Movement. In that capacity, she guided hundreds of young people through their year of service. Over the years, Ayelet always managed to combine her great loves: family, friends, nature and good books. She went hiking whenever she could; more than her favorite pastime, it was a way of life. When the kids were grown, she set off on her big trip: she and her friend Edna travelled to India and Nepal, where she encountered the magnificent Himalaya mountains and the orphanages that operate in the region. She then informed her family that it was time for her own year of service. In 2005, Meni and Ayelet adopted their fourth child, Goni, a sensitive and captivating boy. Ayelet was an exemplary mother and a beloved grandmother. She always came up with something personal and special for each child, whether an art project, an invitation to an activity, or dough for cookie-making. Her personal attention and ability to treat every person as an equal made Ayelet a professor of human relations. She displayed the same generosity and simplicity whether hosting kindergarten children or members of the “Valley Parliament” singing troupe. Together with Meni, she kept a home that was always open, buzzing with guests, children, grandchildren, adopted children, students, family and friends—a great number of friends. Ayelet believed with all her heart in the kibbutz and its residents, and took an active part in the kibbutz life. She left her mark everywhere: on the children now grown; in the petting zoo; on the bike paths she helped plan; in the “shin-shin” communal housing she brought to Be’eri; in the cultural events she organized; in her faith that one can make a change and have an impact. She was driven by an inner fire, endless dedication, and a sense of purpose that knew no bounds. On Saturday morning, October 7, 2023, she and Meni were murdered side by side, in the home they loved, on the kibbutz that was their home. May her memory be a blessing. Back 28.06.1960 - 07.10.2023 63 years old

Sahar Baruch Life Story Sahar was the son of Tami and Roni, and was born on November 25, 1998, shortly after the family returned to Be'eri from a year-long sabbatical in the north, along with his older brother Guy. Later, his younger brothers, Idan and Niv, joined the family. The household was lively and full of energy, as is often the case with four siblings. The siblings shared a close bond, as well as mutual interests and activities. Sahar was a quiet and curious child. He attended the "Shaked" Kindergarten and was part of the "Ananas" group on the kibbutz. His gentle nature allowed him to form close connections with the girls in his class. He had a wide range of interests, including judo, cycling, and music. He played both the organ and the trumpet with great skill. Sahar had a rich inner world and a deep connection with his brothers. Together with Idan and Guy, he participated in the regional council’s kayaking club for many years. This club revealed another side of his personality: his adventurous spirit and leadership skills. It also provided an opportunity for the brothers to bond even further, and enjoy shared experiences. At school, Sahar excelled in the sciences. His hobbies included chess, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic cards, and fantasy books, which he loved reading to his younger brothers to share his passion with them. He played chess frequently, took part in several competitions, and even won some. He also enjoyed playing chess online with people from around the world. During his teenage years, Sahar grew his hair long, which he donated when he cut it before joining the military. He enlisted in the Navy, serving as a mechanic on a missile boat. He successfully completed his training course; his friends often said that during their study sessions, Sahar would sit up suddenly from his rest, provide detailed and well-explained answers to their questions, and then go back to relaxing. His comrades admired his professionalism and knowledge and knew they could always rely on him, as he was dedicated and committed to his work. His service coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant long stays aboard the missile boat. Sahar participated in several voyages from Haifa Bay to Eilat via the Suez Canal—trips that left a lasting impression on him. When he was discharged during the second lockdown, his plans for post-service travel were altered, leading to a postponed trip to Japan, which remained an aspiration for the future. Upon his release from the military, Sahar returned to work in Be'eri. He initially worked as a tutor for elementary-school children, demonstrating dedication and seriousness. He managed to balance playful interactions with the children while maintaining his responsibilities as a mentor. His clear boundaries, combined with his sensitivity to the children, fostered deep and meaningful relationships, earning him the appreciation of the children, their parents, and the staff. He was a beloved tutor and continued in this role until the end of the school year, after which he worked at the local print shop. One of Sahar's greatest dreams was embarking on the "big trip," as so many post-military young adults did, and he approached it with his characteristic seriousness. In preparation, he set out on the Israel National Trail, where he met new people and faced challenges he had set for himself. After a brief period of rest, he left for a long trip to South America. Enthusiastically, he embarked on treks in the mountains and described to his family the breathtaking places he visited—the Iguazu Falls, salt deserts, silver mines, and rivers with waters reddened by dissolved minerals. During his travels, he often played chess online with Idan back home, allowing his family to keep track of his whereabouts. Sahar returned from his travels with long hair, which he planned to donate again during his studies. Sahar was accepted to study Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ben-Gurion University, a field in which he excelled. He returned from his travels to begin his studies, which were set to start on October 20, and he was looking forward to them. In the meantime, he worked briefly with his grandfather Yitzhak in the print shop. On a Saturday morning, at the start of the attack on Be'eri, Sahar woke up with Idan in their mother's home. Both were injured by shrapnel from grenades thrown at them. Sahar took care of Idan with dedication. By midday, the attackers set the house on fire, and the brothers decided to jump out of the secure room window. Sahar briefly delayed to retrieve Idan’s inhaler, and that was the last time he was heard from. Idan was murdered near the house, and it was later revealed that Sahar had been abducted and taken to Gaza. Sahar celebrated his 25th birthday in captivity. After 62 days in captivity, on the first night of Hanukkah, the heartbreaking news of his murder reached his family. Sahar has not yet been laid to rest in a Jewish burial. He was 25 years old at the time of his death. May his memory be blessed. Back 25.11.1998 - 08.12.2023 25 years old

Rony Levy Life Story Rony was born on September 14th, 1943 in Algeria, the youngest son of Makhlouf and Fortuna. He was the youngest brother to Jacques, who was drafted into the French army during World War II, and Ariel and Ilan, who joined the "Dror" movement and emigrated to Israel to Kibbutz Re'im. Rony immigrated with his parents to Israel at the age of 12 to Kibbutz Re'im, and was sent as Yeled Hutz (a child from a family not from the kibbutz) to Kibbutz Be'eri. Tzafrirah Shomroni taught him Hebrew, and in her and Gideon’s home, he found a family. Within three months, he was speaking Hebrew and had integrated into the Eshel group in school. He taught his friends French songs, excelled in soccer, and worked in the electricity workshop. When he was 17, Rony met Noa when she came to Be'eri for an agricultural school trip. In the army, Rony served as a combat fighter in the Paratrooper’s 890th Battalion, and upon completing this NCO course, attended the parachuting instructor course. During the following years, he did his reserve duty as a parachuting instructor, eagerly responding whenever called up. He parachuted hundreds of times. In addition, due to his skills and knowledge of French, Rony also instructed officers from the Congo and Cameroon, as well as Phalange forces from Lebanon. After the army, at age 21, Rony and Noa married, and a year later, Yuval was born. Eldad was born four years later. Rony wanted to continue his military career but was appointed by the kibbutz as chief electrician. He consequently attended the electrician course at Ruppin College and went on to manage the branch for the kibbutz – insisting that all development, maintenance, and electrical work be done by Be'eri' electricians. In 1973, in a car accident that killed six kibbutz members, Rony lost his adoptive parents, Tzafrirah and Gideon, and just as Gideon and Tzafrirah had adopted him, so did he and Noa adopt their children – Einat and Yaron. In 1976, the kibbutz movement asked Rony to go as an emissary to manage the southern France branch of the "Dror" youth movement. During his stay there, he was called up several times for covert activities in Russia and to meet with Prisoners of Zion. Upon his return, Rony decided to change his career direction and study design and architecture, but he had to delay these studies due to the needs of the kibbutz. Finally, at age 45, he went to study interior and product design in Tel Aviv, graduating with excellence and joining the teaching staff. After his studies, he was offered a job in marketing at the kibbutz printing house, focusing on the greeting-card sector, where he also excelled. In 1995, Rony and Noa went again to southern France as immigration emissaries on behalf of the Jewish Agency. Upon their return, Rony applied and was accepted to be the construction coordinator of the kibbutz, and ended up building the Ashalim neighborhood and upgrading and designing the workspaces and offices in the printing house. As a result, he became an integral member of the printing press maintenance team and a partner in their legendary Tuesday-morning breakfasts. Even after retiring, he remained a consultant for design changes at the printing house. At the same time, Rony was an active partner in every project throughout the kibbutz that required architectural design, such as the Garden of the Sixties. He provided interior design consultation to any kibbutz member who asked, and together with a team led by Tamar Ben Zvi, he was involved in establishing a memorial room for fallen soldiers in the armament room and in establishing the Founders Square in honor of the kibbutz founders in the community center – a project only recently completed. Rony was a devoted athlete. He started as a dangerous left fielder at Hapoel Be'eri in soccer, where he played with Gideon Shomroni and many others. As he grew older, he switched to tennis and eventually fell in love with cycling – both road and off-track. Rony crossed Israel twice on his bike and even organized cycling trips for himself and his friends in Israel and abroad. In recent years, Rony had a tradition: every birthday, he rode his age in kilometers, and just a month before his death, he biked an entire 80-kilometer trek. Rony was a family man. When Eldad moved with his children to Australia, it was very difficult for Rony, but he knew how to maintain the relationship from a distance and kept daily contact with his grandchildren Shuni, Liam, and Dean. Rony was happy when Yuval finally found Nurit and started a family with her, soon adding Daniel and Eilon to the fold, as well as the families established by Einat and Danny with grandchildren Ayelet, Nimrod, Avner, and Dana, and Yaron and Alison with grandchildren Gideon, Millie, and Yuval. In recent years, Rony became a great-grandfather with the birth of his great-grandchildren Noam, Ya'el, and Sol, but Rony, who was named after him, he did not get to know. Rony was murdered on October 7th, 2023, as he fought bravely, until his last bullet, against the murderers who broke into his home. He managed to save Noa, but not himself. In the book "Life Stories," to commemorate Be'eri's 60th anniversary, Rony wrote: "When I take stock of my life, I thank my two brothers who paved the way for me to the country and the kibbutz, and my parents who dared to follow in their footsteps. It is difficult for me to believe that I would have developed elsewhere in so many different ways and in so many endeavors. The motto, which has characterized my life is 'Veni, Vidi, Vici' - 'I came, I saw, I conquered.' I always aim high and feel that I have achieved what I wanted." May his memory be blessed. Back 14.09.1943 - 07.10.2023 80 years old

Hana Kritzman Life Story “After a person is gone, what remains of him? Not his possessions, not his wealth, but his story, whether he wrote or told it. And my story I now present to you,” wrote Hana Kritzman in the opening of the book she penned in recent years describing her family’s history and her own as well. Her writing abounds in sensitivity, humor and wisdom, all of which also characterized Hana, the active, loving, lively woman with a zeal for life throughout her eighty-eight years. On March 27, 1935, a baby girl named Hana was born in Warsaw, Poland, the daughter of Simcha and Hadassah Gutsdiener. Her young father sensed the winds of antisemitism blowing and decided to set out for Eretz Yisrael. After having found a job and a room in an apartment for his family, he greeted his wife and baby daughter as they descended the ship in Jaffa port. Hana recounts, “My mother wondered, ‘What will my love bring me when we meet? A flower? Jewelry?’ And Father presented her with….an orange! This fruit was so expensive and rare in Poland that it was a truly romantic gift in my mother’s eyes.” As a child, although Hana excelled in sports and the long jump, it was the stories that she read and wrote that transported her to the most distant and magical realms. She entertained her younger siblings Yaffa, David, Tzvia and Sara for hours on end as she read and acted for them. Her teacher would read Hana’s compositions to the class in the Yechieli School in Neve Tzedek. When Hana turned fifteen, a bold new world called “fulfillment” (hagshama ) became revealed to her through her activities in the HaNoar HaOved Zionist Youth Movement. The rumor that the Hagshama Movement was seeking youth to pioneer and settle a new kibbutz being founded not far from Gaza called “Be'eri” excited her tremendously. As Hana wrote, “At those very moments, I forgot that I’m the eldest daughter with the burden of the house upon my shoulders. I could only see my dreams and desires, to fulfill and establish my nation.” But Hana did not speak to her parents of her dreams for the future. “Mom, you didn’t understand me,” Hana writes. “I want to go to the kibbutz now with my friends! We will live together, work, eat and share everything for the success of the kibbutz.” Her father ended the discussion: “Over my dead body are you going to the kibbutz! If you go, I will not allow you to return to this home.” Despite the threat, Hana packed a small bag in the dead of night. Together with two of her friends from the youth movement, she boarded a bus headed south. Reaching Kibbutz Sa’ad, the small band of youth decided to continue their journey to Be'eri on foot. When they were warned of the presence of fedayun (terrorists) in the area, they were equipped with guns. “Two fourteen-year-old boys,” writes Hana. “Without knowing if they even know how to shoot, I’m following them, feeling enormously secure. I’m accompanied by two armed men!” When they caught their first glimpse of Kibbutz Be’eri, Hana writes, “In the distance we could see a small campfire with several young people sitting around it and singing. Sometimes people now ask me, Hana, aren’t you afraid of kassam rocket attacks?’ I reply, ‘If you had seen that campfire, you would know that no kassam can move us from here.’” Hana worked in several branches of the kibbutz, describing them in long letters to her mother. She told of the vegetable garden, her work in the dairy farm, of the sole alarm clock on the kibbutz which she was given, of the common living quarters in tents, of the very difficult, yet very rewarding work. One day, her father appeared at the kibbutz gate together with her brother. It turns out that her mother had read him all the letters Hana had written, and he now broke his long silence with a fierce hug. When Simcha died at the age of 87, he requested to be buried in the kibbutz earth. Hana writes, “And perhaps in his request to be buried here, he wished to ask my forgiveness. Not forgiveness in words, but in an act that demonstrates that he will remain in Be'eri for eternity….My mother was buried at his side.” After this city girl had settled into the kibbutz, a new fellow appeared in her life. Tzvi Kritzman, “Tziki.” “I didn’t think I had any chance with him. He was quite handsome. There were girls who looked like beauty queens, and those who were great dancers. I was very shy, and unlike those girls, I didn’t even try to compete for him. Maybe that’s the reason he chose me! A girl has to show some apathy around a guy and not get too excited. He was my first boyfriend. The very act of holding hands seemed tempestuous to me!” Hana received two proposals of marriage. The first was not romantic enough to her liking, nor terribly inspiring, but as she wrote, “The guy that I loved proposed marriage, that’s the main thing!” And yet, on Hana’s 80thbirthday, Tziki surprised her with a ring and even recorded a love song for her. “So, what could I say? We already have four children!” Hana and Tziki’s first-born son, Tzafrir, was followed by Zohar, Noga and Ziv. But Hana was not only the mother of her children, and not only the grandmother of her grandchildren (Amit, Stav, Lior, Omer, Yotam, Sahar, Paz, Ido, Arad, Dotan, Yael, and Noam) and of her great-grandchildren (Yonatan, Itamar, Guy, Adam, Be'eri, Romi, Yarden, Ben, Neta, and Ohr). Hana raised, educated and nurtured many more children as a nanny, a kindergarten teacher, and a teacher. These children became parents of children and grandchildren who also listened to Hana’s stories with sparkling eyes, loved her and wanted to be near the woman who loved children with all her heart, who knew how to calm and hug. In Hana’s words, "Educate just a little, and most importantly, do not interfere with a child’s growth." How do you do that? In Hana's eyes, this was not complicated: Do not say “no,” “don't,” “if,” or “that’s not allowed.” You don’t tell a child, ‘If you do X, then you will get…" Instead, say: "If you do this quickly, we’ll have enough time to do something else!" There is no problem or sadness that cannot be solved by a story. The child doesn’t want to sit? No need to get excited. A child can also move around!" Establishing Kibbutz Be'eri’s library was truly Hana Kritzman’s life work. She sorted the books, and personally designed the library’s very special, inviting interior. There she held Story Hours and acted out stories for her rapt audience. In time, the library became a bustling cultural center for parents and “graduates” to attend lectures, events, and meet-the-author sessions. Hana later became the cultural director in the kibbutz movement, travelling daily to and from Tel Aviv by car. She was a teacher and a grandmother who loved to entertain all her grandchildren, organizing summer day camps - renowned across Israel - for the children and their friends. Hana was affectionately called “Chaneleh” by all, a nickname that perhaps also indicates her kibbutz roots, but chiefly the love, admiration and closeness felt by all who took part in her life’s journey. Many saw Hana as family. She was a mother for all and a grandmother for all, but in her own family – nuclear and extended – she was the head of the tribe, the activator, the one who brought cheer, the magnet that connected everyone to each other, the writer who connects all the stories into one. On Saturday, October 7, Hana, Avigail the caregiver, and Tziki were in their home. During the early-morning rescue by the IDF, as they sat in their handicapped vehicles, they were shot. Tziki and Hana were injured. They were evacuated to Meir Hospital, where Hana fought for her life. At that very moment, just two floors below, Hana’s tenth great-grandchild was born, the son of her grandson Lior. Although anesthetized and ventilated, when Hana was told the good news, the indicators jumped. This infant entered the world with the name Ohr (“light”). In her book, Hana wrote, “I love my family so very dearly that if God forbid my day will come, I will miss them very much. When the day comes, I ask that it happen painlessly, quickly, when I am in my home.” Hana Kritzman died on October 21, 2023, at the age of eighty-eight. May her memory be blessed. Back 27.03.1935 - 21.10.2023 88 years old

Yarin Marie Peled Life Story Yarin Marie Peled was born on Kibbutz Be'eri to Tal and Nimrod in April 2003. She had two sisters, Eli Shitrit and Lihi Peled. Nimrod, Yarin's father, works in the field of medical management, while her mother, Tal, manages the quality department at Be'eri Printing. Her parents met in 2001, got married, and gave birth to Yarin and Lihi. Yarin had another sister, Eli, from her mom’s previous marriage. Yarin always referred to her mother as "Imihu", and Yarin was affectionately called "Nini" by the family, a nickname that accompanied her until the end of her life. During her army service she used to play voice messages of her dad calling her “Nini” for her friends to hear it. Her mother says, “She had large blue eyes, a calm personality, and a smile that said it all.” A close friendship prevailed among the three sisters and Yarin was considered the family glue. She held a central place, connecting everyone – an angel who knew how to bring all the pieces together. As a child, Yarin stood out with her sharp and unique thinking, as well as her sense of humor. While other girls chose pink shirts, Yarin preferred green and orange. Even as a child, she understood sarcasm, found the hidden humor between the lines, and excelled in sports. She did gymnastics until 8th grade and throughout junior and high school she played volleyball. Yarin and her sister Lihi both played on the school team, and together they led the team to win the national championship. Thanks to volleyball, at 15 she also met her boyfriend Idan Kishinevsky, a relationship that lasted until her death. Her sister Eli recalls that on their first meeting he threw a ball at her. Later on, they discovered their shared passion for caregiving and medicine. When Yarin took tests to volunteer for first aid Magen David Adom “MADA", Idan sent her summaries of the material for her to use. They continued talking and never stopped. Yarin was drawn to the medical field from a young age. When her younger sister Lihi, at the age of seven, had a severe epileptic seizure in her sleep, Yarin was there, called her parents, and developed a strong desire to help and care for others, to know what to do and how to respond in times of distress. At the age of 15, Yarin began volunteering with MADA in Ofakim, which took up most of her free time. She loved providing first aid and dreamed of becoming a paramedic. She was adamant about becoming a paramedic in the military. She further insisted on serving in the Gaza envelope, despite its volatility, specifically in the Intensive Care Unit in the Nahal Oz base. Yarin saw it as a mission to protect her home and also to care for the people of Be'eri. Her dedication was absolute, and she continued volunteering with MADA while serving in the military. When she came home on Thursdays, she would immediately go on duty at MADA. She excelled both in volunteering and in her military service. The divisional chief medical officer asked her to stay on as a career soldier as his assistant. Although she had already started studying for the psychometric exam and intended to study paramedics and nursing at Ben-Gurion University, she accepted the offer. Her sister Eli said, "Your role fulfilled you; they fought for you to stay on, they wanted a bit more from you; they didn't want to let you go." Yarin and Idan, who was born at Mishmar HaNegev, were about to move in together. They were always competing with each other: who knew more, who was a better paramedic and who had more difficult cases. Their relationship, which lasted five years, was mature and close and they found in each other the love of their lives. They had already planned their future together and it was clear that they would start planning for their wedding as soon as she finished her service. Idan said, "We grew up together," describing Yarin as always cheerful, happy, laughing, and ready to help. They were inseparable, and Idan mentioned that “She was always there, no matter what time it was – she would come. She was always ready to lend a listening ear. There was no one who did not like her at the station. She always wanted to do as many shifts as possible even when she didn’t have the time. She was perfect, I have no other word to describe her.” Yarin's best friend from Be'eri was Nevo, but Yarin was always surrounded by friends, each receiving her full attention, ensuring that no one felt left out. Her friends from the military service described her as the social heart of the base – a soldier who loved singing Mizrahi songs loudly in the car, playing backgammon, cooking and teaching others to cook, and making everyone laugh until their stomachs hurt. Her friend Shai says, "I knew that as long as she was with me - nothing was scary." And another friend, Lia Ifergan, adds, "It was impossible not to be her friend; it was simply not possible." On the morning of October 7th, Yarin woke up in the Nahal Oz base to the sound of alarms and explosions. She and her friends ran to the open shelter, and Yarin managed to speak with her mother on the phone. A grenade was thrown towards the shelter, and Yarin, along with her friend Shir Biton, returned to their living quarters and took cover. When they encountered a terrorist, they killed him, but another terrorist surprised them in the room and killed both of them. Yarin will be remembered by her family, friends, and acquaintances as a girl full of laughter and devoted to others; the cheerful worker in the kibbutz grocery store loved and appreciated by all the members of the kibbutz; a committed and respected MADA volunteer; a volleyball player who did not stop until victorious; a daughter, sister, girlfriend, and friend who served as an anchor, providing strength, light, and joy to those around her. We carry her heart. We carry her heart within our hearts forever. May her memory be blessed. Back 08.04.2003 - 07.10.2023 20 years old

Dror Kaplun Life Story Drori, born in Kibbutz Ruhamah, was the son of Sarah and Aharonchik Kaplun, and the younger brother of Yehuda. His father made aliyah from Moldova in 1937, eventually becoming a founding member of Kibbutz Ruhamah. Blessed with remarkable dexterity, he excelled as a blacksmith and metalworker. His passions extended to nurturing a pigeon loft, founding a pig farm during a time when it was permissible, delighting friends with his smoked meats, and pioneering the carp fish farming initiative in the Ruhamah dam. Drori's mother, Sarah Lauper, was a Holocaust survivor, the sole survivor of her family. She endured numerous hardships and passed through several concentration camps before arriving in Israel. It is often said within the Kaplun family that Aharonchik's love for Sarah saved her from the trauma of her experiences. Sarah cherished Aharonchik, who was a staunch believer in the ideals of collectivism, socialism, and communism, and she followed in his footsteps. Throughout her life, Sarah worked as a factory worker on the production line at the Mivreshet factory in Ruhamah, a job she truly did not enjoy. However, she found solace in sailing away through her imagination in exquisite prose and poetry, endlessly reading both in Hebrew and Polish. Drori and Yehuda grew up in the communal children's house of their kibbutz. In the few hours they spent together, they collected stamps, organising them by themes, and played chess—on a board when they had one, and sometimes just from memory. As they matured and each assumed significant management roles in their respective kibbutzim (Drori in Ruhamah and Yehuda in Nir Am), they enjoyed debating and contemplating together the best ways to tackle the managerial challenges that faced them, further deepening their bond. Drori was always a good student, fond of learning but not of taking exams. He possessed a sharp mind and a good memory, excelling in both the sciences and the humanities. Beloved and a leader in the "Sheizaf" peer group where he grew up, Drori was a short and chubby child who, through sheer willpower and discipline, transformed himself into an outstanding athlete, playing for Ruhamah's volleyball team. The 20 centimetres he lacked in height to be a "spiker" did not prevent him from being an exceptional "playmaker," skillfully setting up the ball for the spikers. Drori enlisted in the Paratroopers Brigade, went on to officer training, and became a platoon commander in the Golani Brigade. During his service in the Northern Command, while lying in ambush, he encountered terrorists and neutralised them. For this, he received an unofficial commendation from the then Northern Command chief, Rafael (Raful) Eitan: a Kalashnikov rifle as a gift. Modest as he was, Drori never told his children about this incident. After a year of regular service, Drori returned to Ruhamah, worked in the orchard, and even managed it for several years. Following his undergraduate degree in economics from Ruppin Academic College, he managed the Mivreshet factory during an economic crisis. Drori also led Ruhamah's transition from a traditional kibbutz to a kibbutz of a modern type, contributing to the success of this process while ensuring support for the weaker members of the community. He was a man of action, setting a personal example and acting with integrity. This experience led him to manage communities in other kibbutzim such as Lahav, Magen, Yad Mordechai, and Revadim, and in his last role, he managed the community neighbourhood in Kibbutz Gevim. Drori was known for his clear vision, excellent interpersonal skills, and a deep understanding of how people should and could live in a modern kibbutz, making him a legendary community manager. Everywhere he worked, he was valued and loved, and while communities wanted him to stay, Drori always knew precisely when it was time to move on. However, this did not prevent him from continuing to offer his advice and help voluntarily to those in need. Drori married Rosie, a volunteer on Kibbutz Ruhamah, in 1980. Their wedding was held in her native England. In 1982, their eldest daughter, Maayan, was born, followed by Noam in 1985, and Moran in 1987. The couple divorced in 2003. His children describe him as a present and involved father. "On weekends, we would join him in the orchard for picking, in morning shifts at the factory or in the dining room, and even for gate duty. If there was a weekend without shifts, we always went out with him on nature trips around the kibbutz." Noam, his son, adds: "All the years I played soccer, Dad would drive me to all the games on Saturdays. When I was a soldier, he came to visit every time I was home for the weekend." Despite being a hardworking father, when he came home, he set aside his work and devoted himself to his children. This trait also defined him as a grandfather to his five grandchildren: Yuval, Ofir, Nir, Alon, and Klil. He devoted himself entirely to them, without a phone or WhatsApp - just Grandpa Drori and the grandchildren. It's no wonder they loved visiting their grandfather in Be'eri and looked forward to his visits with excitement. Drori was proud of his children and grandchildren. Like his mother, he was an avid reader, sometimes reading three books at once, sometimes more than once. He passionately recommended books he loved and often bought books as gifts for his friends. He fantasised about retirement, where he could read to his heart's content and delve into topics that interested him. He even volunteered as a librarian at the Be'eri library, forming friendships with fellow enthusiastic readers. It was Ayelet Godard, of blessed memory, who introduced Marcelle to Drori. Their first meeting was at a café at the Yad Mordechai junction, and their love blossomed. The modest Drori, who always made do with little, was opened by Marcelle to worlds he was less familiar with and learned to love: cultural events, trips in Israel and abroad. Marcelle taught him to go out, have fun, and enjoy life. On October 5th, two days before the tragedy, they danced until dawn at the Tamar Festival in the Arava. Drori was a man of peace, from the time of Lebanon when he protested outside Ariel Sharon's house to his last days when he made sure to stand at Kaplan every Saturday. Drori was a man of spirit and action, who knew how to turn his vision into reality. He knew there was a time to enrich his own spirit and that of those around him, and a time to plan and execute moves, to make calculations, and to advance the community in which he lived or worked. A person who was a pleasure to speak with. A knowledgeable, thoughtful philosopher at heart, who always spoke to everyone eye to eye. Like his father, he believed in positive thinking, started the morning with a small prayer of intention for the good, and felt that the world smiled back at him. Only one year of retirement was granted to him. He spent it doing what he loved: reading books, engaging in sports, and walking on a tightrope to maintain his balance. He adhered to a healthy diet following the "Maimonides" method and became a nutritional and healthy lifestyle consultant for his loved ones and acquaintances. He felt at the peak of his life. On Saturday, October 7th, Drori grasped the severity of the situation. He expressed his concern for his brother in Nir Am, writing to him, "Don't try to be a hero." He instructed his sister-in-law, Orna, on how to breathe to calm down and how to securely lock the safe room's door. After 10:30, communication between him and his family stopped. Drori left a vast void, a space that will not be filled. His absence is profoundly felt by his children Maayan and Eyal, Noam and Shira, Moran and Guy; his five grandchildren; his brother Yehuda and sister-in-law Orna; all family members and the many friends from all periods of his life with whom he kept in touch. Drori will also be greatly missed by Marcelle's children and grandchildren, who dearly loved him, and by his friends in Be'eri, where he lived nearly 20 years with his beloved Marcelle. His sixth soon-to-be-born granddaughter will grow up hearing stories about her grandfather, a man of great deeds and spirit, and will grow up in their light. His life was taken at 68. May his memory be a blessing. Back 24.07.1955 - 07.10.2023 68 years old

Dor Rider Life Story Back 12.11.2001 - 07.10.2023 22 years old (Temporary worker)