Ma’ayana Hershkovitz Life Story Ma’ayana was born in 1958 and raised in the Ein Hashlosha kibbutz, the daughter of Eli and Shoshana Karasanti, Israeli-born members of the kibbutz, and sister to Eli. Shoshana read the unique name in a story in which the heroine’s name was Ma’ayana – the well of the god. Ma’ayana lived and breathed art from childhood. Her mother was a painter and teacher of art, and her father dealt with sculpture. Over the years, her life always touched on creativity, and in the last years she dealt also with painting, drawing and ceramics. But her primary hobby for years was photography. She tended to photograph scenery, people, and mostly still life. In her youth, Ma’ayana dreamt of studying photography. However, as was customary in that period, she adapted herself to the needs of the kibbutz and studied physical exercise, a field in which she worked until the birth of her oldest daughter, Ella. When her second daughter, Amit, was born, the small family decided to begin a new life in Kibbutz Be’eri, in which Ma’ayana’s father, Eli, also lived. With the move to Be’eri, she joined the staff for infants and started dealing with management jobs: as the person in charge of infants, person in charge of informal education and others. At the age of 40, Ma’ayana studied for a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration and worked at the local council in a variety of organizational jobs, primarily in the field of education. Ma’ayana was energetic and always aspired to study and create. She loved documentary films, and, in the last years, she was involved in creative writing and planned to continue studies in producing and directing. Her artistic journeys moved from the Art Gallery in the kibbutz and extended to many museums throughout the world. She loved to return again and again to those places since she thought that “great paintings should be viewed more than once.” Noah and Ma’ayana met in 1975 in Kibbutz Kalia. Noah came with his group of friends and met Ma’ayana who joined the kibbutz for a year of service. Both were young, beautiful, chatterboxes, and full of life, and the fire of love burned between them from their first meeting – a nighttime swim on an off-limits beach at the Dead Sea. Several months later, Ma’ayana was drafted into the Communications Corps and was stationed in Jerusalem. Despite the distance, they continued to nurture their relationship, which was formalized at Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha in August 1978 following a nighttime telephone conversation in which Ma’ayana notified Noah that she had fulfilled her military service and that they were going to get married. Noah and Ma’ayana loved the kibbutz idea, and when they moved to Kibbutz Be’eri in 1986, they felt that they had found their home and called it a special piece of the Garden of Eden. The aspect of their relationship which supported them through the ups and downs of life over the years was their great love. In addition, they shared values and common areas of interest: their love of sports which led them to swim and ride together, love of art and culture, the world of classical music and Land of Israel songs, and the love of handicrafts in which they would combine their skills in the areas of carpentry and art, and almost always for someone else – the children, the grandchildren, nursery schools and the kibbutz school. In their warm home in Be’eri, in the “border patrol” neighborhood in which Tamir, their third child, was born, a tribe of friends of their age formed. In the common grassy areas in the heart of the neighborhood, children ran around freely and barefoot and felt at home in each of the houses in the neighborhood. Noah and Ma’ayana shared household tasks, and the friends who came in would partake of Noah’s orange cake or Ma’ayana’s wonderful cheesecake. But more than anything, Noah and Ma’ayana’s lives were dedicated to their children, Ella, Amit, and Tamir, and to their seven loving grandchildren: Amir, Daniel, Oz, Lavie, Ma’ayan, Raz, and Naomi. Noah would play with them and Ma’ayana would spend hours doing creative activities, telling stories and swimming with them in the kibbutz pool. Noah always emphasized to the children the value of a united family, and Ma’ayana was the strong woman who lived life fully and inspired them to flourish and grow. Noah and Ma’ayana were secular people who lived a life full of faith. Their faith was expressed in the respect that they felt for all people and their ability to respect and see the divine light in everyone. Back 28.02.1958 - 07.10.2023 65 years old

Gil Boyum Life Story Gil was born 55 years ago in Kibbutz Mesilot in the Beit She'an Valley, second son to Nathan and Tamar, after Yaron. He was followed by sister Shiri. In April 1973, when Gil was five, the Boyum family was involved in a serious car accident. Nathan was killed. Later, Tamar met Ephraim, a member of Kibbutz Be’eri, and the family moved to the kibbutz. There, Gil's half-brother, Lior, was born. Be’eri became Gil's home, where he later married his wife and where he raised his own wonderful family: his life’s achievement. Gil, a member of the “Hadar” cohort (Kibbutz Be’eri’s 21st cohort), did not like to study; his passion was the fields. From the age of 16, he was involved in cultivating field crops, cotton, wheat and potatoes. He spent long hours alone on the tractor, just him, the sky in his eyes and music in his ears. Music was one of Gil’s great loves. In his youth he was a DJ in the kibbutz pub. He served in the Armored Corps in the army. After his discharge, he flew with Shai Davidi, a kibbutz friend, to spend time some time in Thailand. After returning to Israel, he began working in field crop cultivation and was later promoted to operations manager. Gil was a man of the land and the fields – yet his hands were always clean and neat. In 1997, Gil met Ayelet, from Sderot who was at the time living in Tel Aviv. Ayelet's father, the late Shimon Revivo, who worked in Be’eri, planned it all and hit the nail on the head. That year, Ayelet's parents, Shimon and Simcha, insisted on inviting half the kibbutz to the Mimouna (a celebratory dinner on the night following the 7 days of Passover) event at their home. There, Shimon introduced the two young people to each other. Gil's shy smile and huge blue eyes attracted Ayelet. A month later they were already a “couple.” They talked on the phone from the moment they woke up until they bid each other good night. Ayelet soon moved back to Sderot and then joined Gil in Be’eri. They married in June 1999. The henna ceremony was held in Sderot, and the wedding took place around the kibbutz pool. Many of the guests jumped into the water in their clothes. And the joy had just begun. Ayelet and Gil wanted a large family. Their eldest son, Inbar, another victim of October 7, was born in 2000. Fatherhood was seventh heaven for Gil. He adored taking Inbar for rides on the tractor. Omer was born on Shavuot 2003. Anog was born in 2005 and Adi in 2007. Gil was a warm, devoted father. The Boyum family's living room overflowed with games, laughter and joy. Gil would carry the children on his back like a horse. They would cuddle closely together. His love for them was all-encompassing. Gil was also very devoted to his mother and mother-in-law. Ayelet's mother always said that she had gained another son. When Ayelet's father passed away 15 years ago, her brothers looked up to Gil as the paternal figure. In 2005, Gil retired from field crops and joined the Be’eri Printing Press. It took this man, who since boyhood had loved quiet fields and open spaces, some time to get used to working long hours under a roof in a factory and amidst machines, but Gil soon became an integral part of the business. He began on the shop floor and worked his way up to managing the Max credit card production site at Be’eri Press. Gil was loved by all the workers, both those from in and outside the kibbutz. He was a thoughtful and professional "boss." A man of peace. He never raised his voice, and for the most part, a man of few words. But when he had to say something, he said it. And when he did, everyone listened. Gil loved to travel in Israel and all over the world with Ayelet and his family. Ayelet would dream, and Gil would fulfill her dreams. This is how they ended up on a family caravan trip to Portugal. Gil and Ayelet also dreamed of buying a small house facing the sea in Cyprus when they retired. As music lovers, their home was filled with music, and they attended many concerts when traveling. Gil also enjoyed collecting gadgets, and he was also obsessed with the news. He always had to be aware of all the current information. Upon his release from reserve duty, Gil joined Kibbutz Be’eri’s security patrol. Gil was happy during the last week of his life. The family enjoyed a lot of time together, and during the intermediate days of Sukkot, he took the entire family to visit his father's grave at Kibbutz Mesilot. Upon their return, he said to Ayelet: "I’ve fulfilled my role. I did what I was meant to do. " Early in the morning of October 7, 2023, Gil was ready and waiting for his weekly bike ride with his regular group of cyclist friends – his brother-in-law Ilan Weiss and his friend Gal Shremek. At 6:13, Ilan messaged that he was foregoing that day’s ride, so Gil went back to sleep. At 6:30, he, Ayelet and Adi moved into their safe room. At ten to seven he was ordered to join the security patrol. Ayelet begged him not to go, but he said he had to. He got on his bike and set out to defend the kibbutz, the house he loved so much. At 7:35 a.m., he was shot and died of his wounds. At the same moment, his son, Inbar, was murdered elsewhere. Gil – "Gili" to his mother, "Gilgul" to his friends, "Mami" to Ayelet, "Abush" to Anog, and "Daddy" to his three sons – spoke little but loved with all his heart. He had a big, enveloping and confident hug. He was a generous and loving spouse and father. Every night, until his very last, he told Ayelet that he loved her. Gil is gone, Gil's embrace is gone. May his memory be a blessing. Back 06.02.1968 - 07.10.2023 55 years old

Zehava Heker Life Story Zehava and Ze’ev Heker, of Blessed Memory, a great love story. Zehava was born on 13 December 1954 in Givatayim, and at age nine, arrived as an external student (Yaldat Hutz) on Be’eri. Rina and Avraham Hevron were her adoptive family. She was a shy child who hardly uttered a word, and grew up strikingly beautiful, with long dark hair, dignified and sensitive. Zehava served in the IDF in the Golani Operations Command. When she was released, she returned to civilian life via Nahal Na’aran in the Jordan Valley as an emissary of Kibbutz Be’eri. At Na’aran, she managed the vegetable garden, where she met Ze’ev. Ze’ev was born 27 February 1951 on Gan Yoshiya, the first child born on the Moshav. He was a child any parent would love, filled them with pride, and was adored by his teachers. He was clever, direct, and hated lies. At aged ten, he moved with his family to Moshav Tkuma, where he enjoyed a happy childhood. His parents educated him from an early age to be independent and brave, and gave him chores, like riding in the dark to fetch milk, and without him knowing, followed from a distance. Once he went on a hike with his brother, Pinchas, and their dog, Outlaw. Suddenly they heard firing. Apparently, the firing originated from Gaza, and Outlaw shielded Zeev and his brother with his body. Ze’ev studied at the Mikvah Agricultural High School, and that period molded him personally and professionally, turning him into a person of the land. He had a talent for building transistor radios, and travelled into Tel Aviv to buy parts, putting them together from scratch. He was also a strong chess player, and won second place in a high-school championship. In his army service, he was a tank commander. He had already boarded a bus to take a holiday after being demobilized, when the Yom Kippur War broke out. Ze’ev fought in Sinai, where his tank was hit twice, and twice during the war he changed tanks. The war was a significant event in his life, and he recounted it in many stories to his children. At age 24, Ze’ev arrived at Na’aran, in the Jordan Valley, and worked there in agriculture. Amongst other things, he was responsible for the water supply. He lived the life of a cowboy, riding around armed with a Kalashnikov, between enemy Arab villages, in a period during which there were many infiltrations from Jordan. At Na’aran, Ze’ev met the love of his life – Zehava, and she met the love of her life – Ze’ev. Ze’ev fell in love with Zehava after he understood that she knew how to tell the difference between weeds and watermelon. After two weeks, Zehava spoke to her younger brother, Avi, and told him that she had met a gingi – a redhead. She asked that Avi come and visit. When Avi arrived, he was amazed at the bond between them: Ze’ev gazed at Zehava in marvel, and similarly, she gazed back at him. It did not stop nor diminish for all the world. They continued to look at each other like that for 46 years. Ze’ev followed Zehava to Be’eri. They married on May 7, 1978, and their three children were raised at Be’eri: Limor, Dvir and Hagay. Zehava worked in several positions on the Kibbutz. She managed a department at Be’eri Print, and worked long hours every day. For several years she worked as a caregiver at the primary school, where the children liked her so much they continued to visit her long after leaving. Zehava loved to help other people. She had a special talent to see the good in each person, and to be positive and complimentary. Girlfriends poured out their hearts to her, and people were drawn to her like a magnet. Ze’ev said of her, “No matter where we were, everyone loved Zehava”. She was creative and industrious, and nurtured a home and spectacular garden, concocted natural soaps, prepared dried fruits, and learnt to grow succulent plants. She had a heart of gold, hands of gold, and everything she touched turned to gold, as her name – Zehava/Goldie - implies. She was devoted to all her work and gave infinitely. Zehava was interested in spirituality and the human soul, and learnt and became knowledgeable in this field by reading copiously and taking courses. Ze’ev was a man of the land, a farmer through and through, and served as the Director of Agriculture on Be’eri. He occasionally held other positions on the Kibbutz, but always returned to farming. He grew gladiolas, potatoes, wheat, peanuts, maize, and peas. Ze’ev was a humble man, and a perfectionist. He held very high standards, and said of good work, “This was carried out by the rulebook”. Many farmers came to learn from him and consult with him. Every time anew, he loved to work, to sow, to water, and to harvest. At one point, he was his son Hagay’s direct supervisor at work, and taught him the secrets of the land. Even after his retirement at age 70, he continued to work shifts on the tractor, to calibrate tools, and to remain updated on what was happening in the fields and on the land. From the time they met, Zehava and Ze’ev did everything together. Ze’ev went along with the follies of Zehava. She didn’t drive, and he drove her everywhere, and would wait for her at each place. “Thanks to this”, he would say, “I got to know new places”. On her birthday, he would always buy her a new piece of jewelry, and would write a meaningful letter. The respect between them remained always, even though now and again a quarrel would occur. They always knew how to accommodate each other. Ze’ev always complimented her. They hugged and kissed each time they met and parted, and passed this onto their children, who are also accustomed to hugging and kissing when meeting and parting. Zehava mothered like a lioness, with warmth and a watchful eye, pushing her cubs to independence. Ze’ev taught his children to respect every person, and instilled in them the principle “everyone is a human being, until proven otherwise”. They knew how to give quality time to each child separately. Both cared for their children, but whenever they called to inquire about their wellbeing, each spoke for the other: “Your father is worried” or “Your mother is concerned”… They were wonderful grandparents to 11 grandchildren. Zehava was devoted to them and very involved in their lives. Ze’ev told his grandkids, any help you need, just ask. He always took them and fetched them from every place, and every time a class at school was cancelled, they called him immediately. Ze’ev and Zehava loved to hike and travel in Israel. When Ze’ev retired, he bought a jeep to travel with his kids and grandkids. It did not matter to where, the main thing was to travel and to enjoy nature. When his children were small, Ze’ev didn’t agree to go on a family holiday sleeping in a tent, because he said he had enough tents during his annual reserve duty. Only after he retired, and out of respect for his grandchildren, did he agree to sleep with them in a tent. They even bought him a tent as a present for a birthday. Zehava and Ze’ev were both bibliophiles. They both read a lot a lot and studied a lot. Zehava loved the song, Matanot Ktanot (“Small gifts”) by Rami Kleinstein and Ze’ev loved Yeled Shel Abba (“Daddy’s Boy”) by Mookie. On the eve of Simchat Torah, Ze’ev and Zehava spent time with their sons, Hagai and Dvir, and their families, and parted as usual with a hug and kiss. The following morning, Saturday, October 7, the Kibbutz woke to the sound of fire. As soon as it became apparent that terrorists had infiltrated Be’eri, Zehava asked everyone on the family WhatsApp group to give a sign of life. At a certain point, Zehava wrote that there were terrorists outside their home and at 13:50, they entered. Ze’ev and Zehava had locked themselves within their safe room. Dvir and Hagai's families were rescued during the night, but contact was lost with Zehava and Ze’ev. Apparently, the terrorists took them as hostages to another house in the neighbourhood, where there was a shoutout with Yamam , the Police National Counter Terror Unit. Their fate was unknown for 11 days, until the family received notification of their passing. Zehava and Ze’ev Heker were honest, ethical, hard-working people, people of virtue. They loved their family, their children, and their grandchildren, and were very devoted to them. They loved, respected, and admired each other, every day and every hour, until the last moment. The poet Zelda wrote: I am connected by thread To you Our beloved festivals And wonderful periods of the year With a treasure of fragrances, flowers Fruit, leaves, and spirits With the mist and rain The sudden snow And dew Hanging by a longing thread You and me and the sabbath You and me we lived In a previous life You and me And the lie And the fear And the torn You and me And the Creator of the Heavens does not have Seashore You and me And the riddle You and me And death May their good memory be a blessing. Back 13.12.1954 - 07.10.2023 68 years old

Yasmin Bira Life Story Yasmin was born in 1971 in Buenos Aires to Leon and Dora, an identical twin to Dalia and younger sister to Dana. Their parents instilled in them Zionist values and a love for their homeland, and, despite the financial difficulty, they sent Yasmin and her sisters to the private Jewish school, Golda Meir. At the age of 19, after completing high school with a focus on the sciences, the twins decided to make Aliyah and settle in Kibbutz Sde Boker, eventually drawing their entire family to follow them. Yasmin, a new immigrant, improved her broken Hebrew, adapted to kibbutz life, and at the age of 20, despite being officially exempt from military service, chose to volunteer. She joined a Nahal unit that would settle a new community in Israel’s North. In that same year, 1992, Oron, following his release from the army and after working to save some money, set out on a post-army journey: South America, trekking, beautiful landscapes, meeting new people. He worked in construction and as a roof installer. The world opened up to him. Two more years passed. Yasmin completed her service and moved to Jerusalem to live in the student dormitories. She studied in a preparatory program to prepare herself for a degree in humanities, but after a year she chose to discontinue this path, and returned to the kibbutz. Likewise, after a year-and-a-half-long journey, Oron returned to his kibbutz with his work cut out for him: he needed to take his matriculation exams, complete a degree in computer science, and integrate into work at the kibbutz factory. He would keep his love for traveling and adventure, along with his zest for life, throughout his life. In the dining hall of Kibbutz Be'eri, as they washed dishes over the large kibbutz sinks, the two met. Yasmin, 26. Oron, 29. She’d come to the kibbutz as a farmhand. Her plan was to work for a year and save some money, but she found herself, two years later, under the chuppah next to a farm boy who called her "The Light of My Life”, and didn’t cease making her laugh until his dying day. "Dad's humor" is what his children dubbed his jokes characterized by wordplays. In 2000, Tair was born, followed by Yahav four years later, and three years later, Tahel. A family was formed. Yasmin nursed all three until a late age, holding them close to her. Even the mischievous, stormy Oron became a dedicated and gentle father, a solid support for his children. In the parental division, common among many couples, Yasmin emphasized the concern for their children’s mental well-being and inner peace, while Oron encouraged resilience. If one of the girls would call home crying from an overnight school trip, saying she wants to come home, Oron would encourage her to remain, not to give in. Upon her return, he’d hug her and she’d invariably say, "Dad, it's good I stayed." Years passed; Oron advanced further and further in his work at the print shop in the field of information security and in the pursuit of the good life. Occasionally, he’d steal Yahav away, and together they’d try out Tel Aviv’s newest gourmet restaurant. Yasmin also successfully integrated into the printing factory in the coordination, production, and marketing department, and was considered a meticulous and visionary worker. But alongside her work, she always made sure to reserve half of her time for volunteering: a daycare center for toddlers in Netivot, emotional support for single mothers, integration of marginalized populations—anything she possibly could. Anything in the realm of emotional well-being. Both with the environment and with her children. Her profession as an accountant manager she learned amidst work, life, raising children, reading books, and transitioning from one diet guru to another. "She's afraid of the Sivan Ofiri," Oron joked when she settled on the diet regime of this particular weight-loss coach. Yasmin would speak openly about emotions and weaknesses, and she stood out for her candor and for her ability to see the other. Oron, for whom communication with the children was equally important, found additional ways: sports and fitness, biking and scuba diving, adventures and trips. Yasmin was responsible for the budget, and Oron for spending it. Yasmin sought to save, and Oron responded, "You only live once." Oron cooked, Yasmin baked. Oron adored the musical Banai clan, especially Ehud Banai. Yasmin adored the soccer star Lionel Messi. Oron didn't miss a single concert, she never missed a game. When Messi lost a game, Oron and the kids knew it was a day of mourning and a good idea to keep their distance. Anyone close to the family knew of their special bond. They knew that each member of the family preferred to be with the others – family taking precedence over everything. Five people, and Poncho, their dog, who was a constant companion to the family for 12 years until he, too, was murdered — all intertwined with one another. They insisted on shared meals, shared trips, language, and an “internal” family language and humor. A family where each was for all and all for one. Now only one remains. Three months before the skies fell, Yasmin and Oron went to Portugal for a couples' vacation. Missing their children pushed them to act: they entered a local tattoo parlor and requested identical tattoos. When they emerged, they sent a photo to the kids: on their outstretched arms, the children could read their names engraved on their parents’ skin: Tair, Yahav, Tahel. On Friday, October 6, 2023, the family went out to dinner and a movie. Yahav's girlfriend joined them. When they parted, Yasmin and Oron went home with the two girls, while Yahav and his girlfriend headed to his apartment on the kibbutz. On Shabbat, at 10:58, the last sign of life was heard. Tair called Yahav from their safe room. Through the phone were heard screams, gunfire, silence, and then words in Arabic. Eleven days later, all of their bodies were found in the field next to the kibbutz. Rachel the poet wrote in a poem called "My Dead” about the living dead, the dead in whom death will never thrust its sharp knife. From a distance of years, she wrote: "In whom death's sharp knife has nothing left to kill. They alone are left me, they are with me still At the turn of highways, when the sun is low, They come round in silence, going where I go Ours is a true pact, a tie no time can sever. Only what I've lost is what I keep forever.” (Translation by A.Z. Foreman) Yahav has been left with an overwhelming legacy. May Yasmin’s memory be blessed. Back 04.11.1971 - 07.10.2023 51 years old

Orit Svirsky Life Story Orit Svirsky was born on the kibbutz on July 20, 1953 to Aviva and Bamik Sela, who were among the spiritual and physical founders of the kibbutz. Bamik, born in the Borochov neighborhood, and Aviva from Nesher, near Haifa, settled in Nakhbir (old Be’eri) after Yom Kippur, 1946 and fought there in the War of Independence. Bamik, Yigal Alon’s right-hand man, was one of the founders of the Be’eri printing press and its manager. He also served as kibbutz secretary and general manager. Aviva served in many roles, among them principal of the kibbutz school. Orit, the beautiful girl from the “Kitat Shibolim” went straight from Soroka Hospital to the children’s home where all the kids would live and sleep communally. She was a graceful child with infinite gentleness. Orit was warm-hearted with green eyes, full of compassion and intelligence that even in photos from as young as four lit up the room. While many of her group were rough and frivolous, she was ever-so-serious, diligent and industrious. Orit would always find a way to fit in softly and with sensitivity. At home, the little blonde stood out from her dark-skinned, tanned family and would always joke that she was adopted. Orit was an outstanding student; she was very active socially and was a counselor in the Bnei Hakibbutz youth movement. She was always head of the class committee. From a young age, and throughout her rich life, she stood out as a brilliant and resourceful manager, who had an artist’s spirit and was possessed with spiritual depth. Her elder brother Itamar, and her younger siblings, Danny and Osnat, were her soulmates - something that could not be taken for granted in an age of communal living, when each child lived with their peer group, and the class was their family. Orit had other brothers and sisters: Tamar, Amosi, Gidi, the children of Aunty Sarah, Bamik’s sister, who grew up as blood brothers with the Sela siblings. Gidi, with whom Orit was very close, fell during his military service, leaving the family deep in grief. Just before completing high school, Orit met Rafi, who had come to the kibbutz as part of a Nahal group from the scout’s movement. Rafi stood out straightaway as good looking, clever, intelligent. They were brought together by a love of art and Rafi decided to stay on Be’eri. They married in 1979 and then flew for a post-army trip to the Far East, which would become a very significant part of their life’s journey. Their strong, deep connection was an inspiration to all around them. Orit studied at the Hebrew University and then returned to the kibbutz where she taught Bible studies and mathematics. After a year back on the kibbutz, Orit and Rafi moved to Givatayim, where she took on a managerial role. Her twins, Yonatan and Meirav were born in the city, but when the kibbutz gave up communal living in a children’s home, Orit and Rafi took this as a sign that it was time to return home. Itai was born on the kibbutz and four years later, Yuval followed. Right after she came back, Orit opened the kibbutz art gallery in the bomb shelter under the dining room. Some 400 exhibitions have been shown there since. Orit was the gallery’s first curator and devoted herself to contemporary art, adopting a challenging and courageous style. Over the next few decades, she straddled a diverse career as deputy CEO of the printing press, human resources manager and head of welfare and health for the kibbutz, together with her love for art. Orit wanted the kibbutz to constantly evolve and grow and she was always involved in that process of change and reinvention. Orit was a deeply involved parent and mother, a rock and anchor who gave her children a sense of security and was endlessly attentive to their needs and involved in their lives. She was an aunt who was worshiped by a whole tribe of city children who would come to stay on the kibbutz every summer holiday. Throughout the year, they would eagerly await the chance to wake up with Orit at five in the morning for kibbutz chores. As she approached retirement, Orit made another change in her life and began to volunteer as a spiritual counselor for people with serious illnesses and those facing death. She gave herself fully to her spiritual, emotional and artistic studies and blossomed in them. She found her natural place in listening and healing for those who were in need. Those were joyous years of self-realization. Orit was happy as a grandmother who showered love on seven-year-old Eilam, on four-year-old Keinan and on Dror who was born just ten months before her death. These were years of creative activities with her grandchildren and she took care of their every need, especially their inner happiness and creativity, and the content of their souls. These were years in which she nurtured a warm, deep and loving family unit - as well as nurturing her tribe and extended family, with all its branches. She traveled the world with the soul of an adventurer and researcher. She volunteered, with generosity and depth, with caring and with her unique, delicate calm. Orit never stopped learning and improving. She studied and practiced meditation, Buddhism, mindfulness and education. In her art, she developed her own language that was rich and full of beauty, constantly evolving and giving great joy to a large audience, on social media as well. Over the past few years, it was her visual diary, a tool that brings together healing and art, that filled her world. She had a vivid desire to pass on all the tools and knowledge she had acquired. Her home was full of treasures, paint, art tools, and art work. Her courtyard was home to an enchanting, magical, blossoming garden. No one believed Orit was seventy years old; she was bursting with style, impressive, full of strength and light, radiant, at the peak of her life, at the peak of self-fulfillment, at peace with herself, happy with her lot. With endless devotion, she helped her parents into their nineties. Bamik died three years ago. Aviva survived the massacre and is ninety-seven. Deep into the night, amid our holocaust, as the soldiers finally came to evacuate Aviva, she refused to leave until she knew the fate of her daughter. “I have a daughter here,” she insisted, “I have grandchildren.” Itai was taken hostage. Yoni was rescued and survived the massacre. Since six in the morning on that Black Saturday, Meirav and Yuval haven’t ceased to search, to fight, to beseech, to try to save, to hunt down every little piece of information. Through the dark skies, the flourishing house was charred to ash in our holocaust. A few years ago, Orit wrote: “ In moments of fear and weakness, I discovered that I have the freedom to choose how I approach life. I chose then, and I continue to choose now, every day anew, to love what I have, and to develop and grow everything that I can. For me, an ideal life is a life that has love, purpose, growth, balance, generosity, honesty, leadership and creativity. I believe that everything is possible, for all of us, that our potential is greater than we realize and greater than we even imagine.” With her passing, we shall never return to being what we were and what we dreamed of being. May her memory be a blessing. Back 20.07.1953 - 07.10.2023 70 years old

Tami Suchman Life Story Tami was born on Kibbutz Kedma, the eldest child of Abba and Leah Barmak. Her birth came just two months after her parents had participated in the “11 Points” initiative, a settlement campaign that was aimed at establishing new communities in the northern Negev and carried out the night after Yom Kippur of 1946. Through their involvement, her parents became founding members of Kibbutz Kedma – one of the 11 settlements established that night. Tami arrived in the world at the end of January 1947, mere months before Israel's Declaration of Independence. Two years later, the family welcomed her baby brother, Udi. Losing her mother, Leah, at the age of 5, Tami raised Udi as if he were her son, and the two developed a tight and special bond. Shortly after Leah’s death, Tami’s father, Abba, married Hannah, with whom he had three children – Ada, and the twins, Vered and Nitzan. In 1962, after Kibbutz Kedma was abandoned, the family of seven settled in Be’eri. As a member of the second class of Be’eri youth (“Kitat Shalhevet ”), Tami emerged as an energetic, spirited and almost unruly teen, who instead of toeing the line somersaulted over it… In 1968, just over 20 and pregnant, she married 22-year-old Tzvi Suchman, who had joined the kibbutz as a "yeled hutz " (a child who came to the kibbutz from the city or elsewhere) and became a member of the first class of Be’eri youth (“Kitat Eshel ”). The joint wedding, along with another couple who married that day, was held in Be’eri. They named their firstborn daughter Ella, and a year and a half later, her younger brother Gidi was born. Soon thereafter they welcomed their son Ben, today the CEO of the famous Be’eri printing house. Twenty years after the wedding, Tami was pregnant again, giving birth to their youngest daughter, Gal. The Suchmans eventually divorced. Tami wasn’t known to be a particularly strict mother, often remarking to her children, “You brought yourselves up.” In her final years, witnessing her children grow into people she was proud of, she would tell them, “Looking at you, I realize I must have done something right after all.” Tami was famous for her nose for fashion and ability to spot the next big trend. She was the first woman in Be’eri to wear zippered jeans, and turned heads whenever she came back from a visit to Tel Aviv with a new pair of earrings. Coupled with a keen eye for quality and chic, Tami possessed the rare ability to identify trends just before they hit the mainstream. Stepping into a clothes shop, she could instantly pick out the most unique and original piece from a sea of thousands, and once she put it on, it wasn’t long before everyone started copying her. Her fashion sense was intertwined with her artistic spirit. In her youth, Tami excelled in sewing and design at Shenkar College, overcoming her previous academic challenges to shine as a dedicated and talented student. Upon her return to the kibbutz, she found her place as a school teacher, teaching various crafts including jewelry making, woodworking, and sewing. She also took on the role of homeroom teacher, and in her free time created her own gold and silver jewelry as well as clothing. In 1986, she was appointed head of Be’eri’s sewing shop, and with the same vim and vigor she applied to any project she took part in, she transformed it from a modest workshop into a successful factory. Tami led the Be’eri sewing shop for nearly three decades, and continued to contribute her expertise even after official retirement. Following her tenure at the sewing shop, Tami launched her own line of designer handbags, “Tamitik,” which she marketed to friends and acquaintances. Her handbags quickly became a hit, well-known among connoisseurs across the country. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she started sewing fabric face masks. She just couldn’t stay still. While still at the sewing shop, Tami began to study alternative medicine, becoming a practitioner of shiatsu, tui na and acupuncture. Her treatments were known for their gentle touch, providing both physical and spiritual healing. In the final years, she gave up practicing due to hand pain, but continued to offer valuable advice and recommendations for natural remedies for relaxation. Tami had a special relationship with each of her 12 grandchildren. She engaged with them on their level, becoming the go-to grandmother for cookies or when a shirt needed mending. A large part of her family lived nearby on Be’eri, enveloping her in love. Her father – affectionately dubbed “Sabba Abba” by the big Barmak tribe – lived nearly to the age of 100 on Be’eri, passing away four years before his daughter. Her home – overflowing with exquisite flowers, paintings and artwork – was a hub of family gatherings. Tami was the heart of these gatherings, in charge of orchestrating the birthday parties, writing the greeting cards and baking the cakes. During the Coronavirus pandemic, Tami and her sisters opened “BarmaCafé,” a communal coffee shop whose name playfully nodded to their maiden name, providing the people of Be’eri a much-needed social setting. Every Wednesday afternoon, the café opened its doors to the kibbutz members, serving coffee alongside the Barmak sisters’ homemade baked goods – lemon pie, meringues, chocolate chip cookies, orange cake, cheesecake and more. Tami, by then retired, was the driving force behind the initiative, spending her weeks purchasing products and preparing the kitchen for Wednesday’s baking. The guests were greeted at the café with a smile and slice of cake. With her unstoppable generosity, Tami dedicated herself to numerous volunteer activities. Among those she helped was Khaled, a resident of the Gaza Strip who worked as a construction worker in Be’eri before the First Intifada. When Khaled could no longer enter Israel, Tami initiated a campaign to collect donations from Be’eri residents to support his family in Gaza. The funds were gathered and transferred over the years, along with birthday cards and holiday greetings. Later, Tami volunteered at “The Road to Recovery,” a nonprofit organization that arranges transport for Palestinian patients from border crossings to Israeli hospitals for medical treatment. Every week, she would drive to Erez Crossing, pick up a patient from Gaza to their medical appointments, and then back to the border. When Khaled’s brother was diagnosed with cancer and hospitalized in Israel, Tami had the opportunity to pick up Khaled from the checkpoint and detour to Kibbutz Be’eri en route to the hospital, giving him a chance to reconnect with kibbutz members he hadn’t seen for years. On the morning of Saturday, October 7, 2023, Tami was at her home in Be’eri. When the Hamas terror attack began, she entered her safe room and called her family. As it became clear that terrorists had infiltrated the kibbutz, her son Ben, who lived nearby, instructed her to hold the safe room's door handle to keep them out. Tami gripped the handle with all her might, until she felt she was about to pass out and sat down for a moment’s rest. A short while after, still on the call, her son heard the terrorists breaking into the safe room and taking Tami. At first, the family thought she had been kidnapped to Gaza, but ten days after the attack her body was identified, dashing all hopes to see her alive again. May her memory be a blessing. Back 26.01.1947 - 07.10.2023 76 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