Yonat Or

Yonat was born in November 1972. Her parents, Aviva and Hannan Besorai, have two older children, Ahal and Noyit. Aviva worked in accounting and Hannan was the kibbutz carpenter. Yonat grew up in the carpentry shop surrounded by the scent of wood and Turkish coffee. She loved the place dearly and it became a significant part of her adult life.

Until the age of twelve, Yonat slept in the children’s home on the kibbutz. She was the reigning queen of her kindergarten class, Gan Hatzav, and later stood out in her elementary school class,Kitat Zayit. At night, Yonat would often escape the children’s home, running back to her parents and their warm embrace. Despite strict kibbutz rules, Yonat wouldn’t be returned to sleep with the rest of the children at the communal home, and her classmates got used to seeing her empty bed when they woke up in the morning.

Yonat was a strong girl with an inner sense of peace. She became a steady source of love and stability, but she also had a playful and mischievous side. She was a diligent and serious student but at the same time, she was also part of the group of rebellious teens, sneaking into the pool and having late night meals at the children’s home. Yonat was equally comfortable in both worlds, perhaps because of her fantastic sense of humor. Her hearty laugh was never cruel.

When she was still a teenager, Yonat worked on the kibbutz doing landscaping and got a license to drive a tractor. It came in handy when she became a bar mitzvah counselor, when she would drive in wearing blue coveralls and heavy work boots. She never drove a car, but still managed to get wherever she needed to go.

After her military service in the munitions unit of the Southern Command office and a gap year spent working in the kibbutz kindergarten, Yonat moved to Tel Aviv. She waitressed for a while at the Hard Rock Cafe, and studied for her university entrance exams, living life in the big city. She was accepted to Ramat Gan College where she pursued a degree in psychology.

Like all students who are kibbutzniks, Yonat was required to do mandatory work on the kibbutz, which is how she met Dror, who was from kibbutz Reim, but worked at Be'eri at the time. Yonat described how they met: “The encounter between us was cosmic. We’re very similar but also totally different. Dror is a yoga teacher, like me. He’s also a chef and a fromagier at “Be'eri Cheese ''. The young couple moved in together, and lived in Tel Aviv and later in Rehovot, where Yonat worked for Holmes Place Gyms. They got married in 2003 and a year later, returned to live in Be'eri, where Yali, Noam and Alma were born.

Yonat was a protective and loving mother; their home was always filled with family and friends. They were busy: attending parties, workshops, yoga retreats, hiking with friends, hosting sumptuous dinners with good food and fine wines. Their parties always lasted late into the night because no one wanted to leave.

Yonat began working for the printing press at Be'eri as a production planner. A few years later, she switched to the department of human resources, but while working at the printing press, she discovered a new passion: restoring wooden furniture. She described it as follows: “When we renovated our house, I suddenly discovered my passion for design. There was a real spark in my eyes and my talent for it developed and grew over the years.”

Yonat began collecting furniture that had stories to them and renovated them on her porch. She had the instinct to see potential in items that looked like junk. In 2009, her new hobby became official: Yonat opened a small carpentry shop on the kibbutz, renovating furniture and selling the pieces. It was only open one day a week. Vintage furniture hadn’t yet become fashionable, but the trend was beginning to catch on. Yonat recognized the potential and asked the kibbutz to let her use the old carpentry space. She had good people skills and she put together a team that helped transform her ideas into finely designed pieces that had a distinct style. In 2015, she opened her business, “Ayuna, a Simple Story of Wood”. The kibbutz carpentry’s old machines came to life, and a finishing and painting area were added along with a boutique shop. A unique vision was born. The designs were made of solid wood that incorporated antique glass and wooden slats in 50’s-60’s style. Everyone who entered the store was struck by the retro atmosphere, which, coupled with Yonat’s vibrant personality, infused the place with vintage charm. You could sip coffee on the front porch and watch the tractors park in the shed. Every once in a while, mostly before the holidays, the kibbutz held colorful fairs on the road by the studio, selling handicrafts and home-made items.

Yonat became a successful businesswoman, but at the same time she believed with all her heart that there was true value, even healing, to be found in the personal connection between a customer and the piece of furniture that she or he purchased. The store and the brand became famous. The online store took off and Ayuna furniture was soon found in homes all across the country. Yonat became a prominent figure in Israeli interior design. In one of her interviews she said: “I really love people; I love meeting people, and all of my areas of interest just came together. I am fulfilling my destiny. I know it sounds like a big word, but it’s becoming more and more clear to me on this journey.” She wasn’t thrown off course by her success. She always spoke humbly of herself and began the story with, “You’ll never believe what happened...”

Perhaps Yonat herself was a simple story of wood; a pillar of strength for her family and for her ever-growing circles of friends. Before Rosh Hashana she wrote on her website: “It’s a perfect time to reflect, to take stock, be intentional, focus, request and bless. Remember that it’s not about the destination but the journey, what we learn and who we become. It’s a long one, full of setbacks and successes. I built this business with my own two hands, with a strong will and the determination to succeed…and it’s not always easy. It requires great strength, motivation and a strong connection to my core values, my goals, and what matters to me in life. For myself, I hope to keep forging my path and treading on it safely, and that I will always be true to myself. My wish for everyone is: Don't give up, keep dreaming and fulfilling your dreams.”

Yonat was murdered on Shabbat, October 7, 2023.

Our hearts are with Yali, Noam and Alma.

May her memory be a blessing.