Mourning the victims of Kibbutz Be'eri Dror Or Life Story Dror was born on Kibbutz Re’im on January 10, 1975, the son of Yuval and Dorit, members of the kibbutz, and the middle brother to Dana and Elad. On Re’im, Dror belonged to the “Te’enah” (Fig) class, and studied in the elementary schools on Kibbutz Re’im and on Kibbutz Urim, and later at the regional high school, Ma’aleh HaBesor. From a young age, Dror was a people-person—always looking for ways to help his friends, a natural connector who brought people together in any situation. He began speaking at an early age, and would explain to the caregivers in the children's house what was bothering or troubling the other children in his group. Dror played basketball as a youngster and throughout his elementary and high school years. In the 12th grade, he played in two Hapo'el Eshkol teams—youth and adults—and excelled in his position as point guard. Dror related to the game, and life in general, with a wide perspective, always emphasizing how the team functioned as a whole and the role of each player individually. After high school, he spent a year of service with the Noar HaOved youth movement in Rishon LeZion. Even during that year, he continued training in basketball with great dedication. Years of training eventually led to knee injuries and a lowered military profile, and so it happened that this free-spirited man served in the Military Police, as a prison instructor in Prison 4. After the army, he worked in the dairy barn on Re’im and then set out to earn money for his big trip, which was a custom for post-army kibbutz youth. He worked as a bartender at the “El Gaucho” restaurant in Eilat, and then traveled to India. He returned to Israel for a short period, continued working, and set out again—this time to Australia, where he combined work on agricultural farms with traveling across the continent. When he came back to Israel, he arrived at Kibbutz Be’eri to work in the printing house as a computer-to-plate operator. During that period, he met Yonat, a young woman who was born on the kibbutz, who would come as a student to do shifts and contribute work hours in the kibbutz.The two became a couple. After some time on Be’eri, the young couple moved to Tel Aviv. Dror studied culinary arts at Tadmor and worked in several restaurants in the city, including the “Bellini” restaurant. In 2003, Dror and Yonat decided to marry, and held their wedding by the pool in Kibbutz Re’im. They lived for a while in Rehovot and in 2004 returned to Be’eri, where they chose to build their home together. In 2005, their eldest son, Yahli, was born. A year and a half later, Noam was born, and at the beginning of 2010, Alma joined the family. Dror and Yonat were wonderful parents to their three little rascals, caring for them with immense love and endless patience. When most parents would say, “I’m counting to three and that’s it,” Dror and Yonat would calmly count to thirty. In their early years in Be’eri, Dror worked in the printing house, in the credit card department. Later on, he accepted Dagan’s offer and joined the dairy. There he found his place and his calling. Dror was trained in cheese-making both in Israel and abroad, always searching for ways to diversify and create new and interesting flavors. There was a period in which he also ran a vegetarian catering service as part of his work at the dairy. During the anemone-bloom season, he would set up elaborate events outdoors with volunteers and local teens, offering fine cheeses and excellent food. In recent years, Dror managed the dairy and was planning, together with his coworkers, to create a large and beautiful visitor center in Be’eri. Alongside all this, Dror practiced yoga daily for many years, and even taught yoga for a period. It was important to him to share his knowledge and experience with others, and he invested in this alongside his commitments to work and family. He was a yogi in the deepest sense of the word, embracing the philosophy and ideas of yoga beyond the daily practice. Wherever he went, in every human encounter, he brought with him the inner calm and yogic serenity that so defined him. On Saturday, October 7, Dror and Yonat were at home with their children, Noam and Alma, in the Kerem neighborhood. When the terrorists entered the house and begun to set it on fire, Dror and Yonat instructed Noam and Alma to jump out the window, run, and stay together. In doing so, they saved their children’s lives. Noam and Alma were kidnapped to Gaza shortly after jumping from the shelter window. They returned to Israel on November 25, 2023, as part of the first hostage release deal, after 50 days in captivity. For a long time, Dror was considered a missing hostage, and only on May 2, 2024, was the family informed that he had been murdered on Be’eri on October 7 and kidnapped to Gaza afterward. For more than two years, his family fought for his return. On November 25, 2025—exactly two years after Alma and Noam returned from captivity—Dror, too, was brought home for burial in the place that had been reserved for him, beside Yonat. Dror and Yonat raised their growing children with pride, loved traveling the world, spending time and laughing with their many friends, and were an essential part of the Or[1]family. True to their names, Dror and Yonat were people of freedom and of light—people of spirit and creation. They knew how to dream and how to turn dreams into reality. They each left behind local legacies that continue their path in the world, and many people who miss their singular presence: a close circle of friends with whom they loved to dance and celebrate, a family in which they were a profound anchor, and their three children, who—despite having had far too few years with them—carry within them the light and goodness that their parents embodied. May his soul be bound in a bundle of life. May their memory be blessed. [1]"Or" means light in Hebrew. Back 10.01.1975 - 07.10.2023 48 years old

Remembering the members of Kibbutz Be'eri, who were murdered in the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th. Here you can find memorial pages for each and every one of them 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

Mourning the victims of Kibbutz Be'eri Meni Godard Life Story On Shabbat of October 7th, the widest heart that ever beat, came to a sudden stop. Meni Godard—salt of the earth, sweetness of the land, a generous, devoted man, with the ability to love boundlessly—was taken from us, and now has finally been returned. One of the rare souls that shaped Be’eri has come home to the land he loved so deeply. Meni was born in Dajani Hospital in south Tel Aviv, the fourth child of Sonia, a Holocaust survivor from Poland, and of Yaakov, a old-hand swimmer in Israel who competed in two Maccabiah Games and won a series of international titles. In time, Yaakov transitioned from the pools to the beaches and is remembered to this day as the legendary lifeguard of Bat Yam—the city where Meni and his siblings grew up. From Yaakov, Meni inherited his deep love for sports, for the sea, and for people—a love that only grew as time went on. In the early 1960s, tragedy struck the family. Meni’s sister Yamia, was killed in a traffic accident. The painful struggle with the loss led the eldest sister, Shmuelah, to leave home and move to Kibbutz Be’eri. Shortly afterward, at only thirteen, Meni followed in his sister’s footsteps and joined the kibbutz as well. In Be’eri he quickly stood out as an exceptional soccer player. He joined the kibbutz youth team and later the adult team of Hapoel Be’eri, which moved between the B and C leagues. In 1974, the team scored 105 goals—no fewer than 52 (!) of them scored by Meni: the highest number ever scored by a single player in one season. At eighteen, he set the ball aside and enlisted in the Armored Corps reconnaissance unit. In time, he also fought in the northern front battles of the 7th Brigade during the Yom Kippur War. After his discharge, the son of the legendary Bat Yam lifeguard became a king of the beach himself—the beach at Yamit. There he met a young and impressive tour guide serving in the area, who immediately captured his heart. From the very first moment he met Ayelet, Meni knew she was the one he would marry. And so it was. Their wedding took place in September 1981. They were the last couple to marry on the beach at Yamit before its evacuation under the peace agreement with Egypt. From Yamit, Meni and Ayelet moved on to Tel Aviv. He worked as a lifeguard at the Hilton Beach and later at Palmahim Beach. In 1983, their eldest daughter Mor was born, and when she was eight months old, the young family came full circle—Meni returned home, to Be’eri. In 1985, Gal was born, named for Meni’s great love of the sea. In 1991, Bar was born—always "Daddy's girl". In 2004, the family grew when Ayelet and Meni chose to adopt Goni. After meeting Goni for the first time, Meni asked Mor what she thought of him. “He’s cute,” she said. Meni thought for a moment and replied, “I already love him.” Meni and Ayelet took great pride in Goni and in the close bond that formed among them. “We didn’t bring you into the world,” Meni told him, “but we chose you.” Throughout his years in Be’eri, Meni held a variety of roles and trades. He worked as a typesetter in the famous local print shop, managed the kibbutz grocery store, and later served as the chief steward. At the same time, he stayed close to the field, first as a player and later as a coach of the local football team. Generations of young people were trained by him, looking up to him with admiration. While the lower leagues saw him as a symbol of Be’eri, in the upper leagues he was considered one of the most devoted fans of Hapoel Tel Aviv. When Arik Einstein sang “And how miserable are the fans whose hearts get eaten alive,” he was, in many ways, singing about Meni’s heart. While Meni worked as the kitchen supplier, kibbutz members would watch the screens with bated breath whenever Hapoel Tel Aviv played a derby against Maccabi. Everyone in the kibbutz knew that if the Reds won, the next day the jubilant Meni would spoil them with steaks, or at least beer and ice cream for dessert. Beyond every job and every title, in Be’eri he will be remembered as “Meni from the pool,” the institution he ran for many years. Everyone who entered the pool gates looked for Meni—for his kind word, his backgammon game, his support during moments when the soul needed it most. Every new lifeguard who started working at the pool made the same mistake: agreeing to making a bet with Meni that they could beat him in a ball-juggling contest. It always ended in Meni’s sweeping victory. Alongside the day-to-day running of the pool, Meni was determined to turn the place into a cultural gathering spot and a local pilgrimage site. As part of this vision, he initiated “The Pool Cafe.” Once a week, a long table was set with coffee and pastries, and many kibbutz members arrived with shining eyes. Instead of the frequent trips to the water park, Meni decided to create one in Be’eri. Meni’s superpower was his bond with people. His reservoirs of generosity had no limits nor boundaries. He helped both near and far, whether it was a family member, a lone soldier, or a passerby who happened to wander into the pool. The word “no” simply did not exist in his vocabulary. He was, and remained, the go-to person for every appeal for help—the person whose broad shoulders countless people could lean on. His circle of friends spans generations and vast distances, forming the living canon of the good and beautiful Israel: from his comrades-in-arms in the reconnaissance unit, to veteran players of Hapoel Be’er Sheva, to elders of the valley and devoted Hapoel fans. Meni reaped many rewards in every place he went. But there was no achievement he cherished more than the large family he came from, and the loving family he built. He was a devoted husband to Ayelet, a loving brother to his three siblings, a perfect father to his four children, and a beloved grandfather to his six grandchildren. In addition, he was also a deeply devoted son to his father, Yaakov. As Yaakov’s health declined, Meni fought in every way he could to bring him to Be’eri. For many years he cared for him with endless devotion, with touching humility and with no less pride, until Yaakov’s death at age 98. Meni loved this land with all his vast heart—its paths, its songs, and its people. He loved Be’eri - its men and women, and was held in universal admiration by his generation and those who followed. In every home in Be’eri, there is someone who regarded Meni as a partner on life’s journey. In recent years, he and Ayelet joined the “Valley (HaEmek) Parliament” and organized singing evenings that filled Be’eri’s community hall to the brim. At the same time, he continued to roam the trails of the country, sometimes with Ayelet and sometimes with his beloved friends from reserve duty. Outside his home, he planted an orchard that grew apples, mangoes, and mulberries. In a special ceremony with his friends, he named the orchard Arava, after his beloved class. A lush and fruitful orchard—just like the man who nurtured it—an orchard whose fruits will yet grow again. On the horrific Shabbat of 7 October 2023, Meni and Ayelet were murdered by terrorists during the brutal attack on the southern communities. Until their final moments, Meni and Ayelet were together in the home they loved so dearly, in the kibbutz that was their home. Four months after the attack, on 8 February 2024, Kibbutz Be’eri announced that Meni’s body had been abducted and was being held in the Gaza Strip. For more than two years, Meni’s family, the Be’eri community, and his friends worked tirelessly to bring him back for burial in Israel. After 769 long and agonizing days and nights, the circle has finally closed, and Meni has returned home. Meni leaves behind an enormous cloud of love — countless companions on the journey, and a loving, heartbroken family: four children and seven grandchildren, the youngest of whom, Noga, was born several months after the murder of her grandparents. May his memory be blessed. Back 15.08.1950 - 07.10.2023 73 years old

Mourning the victims of Kibbutz Be'eri Sahar Baruch Life Story Sahar, son of Tami and Roni, 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 brothers. They shared a close bond, as well as mutual interests and activities. Sahar was a quiet and curious child. He attended the "Shaked" (Almond) Kindergarten and was part of the "Ananas" (Pineapple) 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 well. 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, though Sahar might have been relaxing, he would sit up suddenly, 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 had 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 whole-heartedly. By midday, the attackers had 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 second night of Hanukkah, the heartbreaking news of his subsequent murder reached his family. Almost two years passed; Sahar has finally been brought to rest in Kibbutz Be'eri soil, where he grew up. May his memory be blessed. Back 25.11.1998 - 08.12.2023 25 years old

Mourning the victims of Kibbutz Be'eri Yosi Sharabi Life Story Yossi was the second child of Ratzon and Chana, and brother of Osnat, Eli, Sharon, and Hila. He was born and raised in Tel Aviv, in the Nir Aviv neighborhood. In his home - a four-story building, everyone knew everyone — they played together, studied together, and grew up together. The Sharabi home was always open, always full of friends who felt like part of the family. From a young age, Yossi developed a special love for the sea and for soccer. He would come home from school, do his homework, and run downstairs to play with his brother and the neighborhood kids. Almost every Saturday, they would pack a ball, towels, a cooler filled with fruit, and his mother Chana’s jahnun , and head to the beach until evening fell. Yossi used to say, “Those were the days when the simplicity of life and the joy we found in what we already had filled everyone with a happiness that sought for nothing more.” Yossi studied in Tel Aviv until ninth grade, and in 1985 he joined the youth program on Kibbutz Einat. His wish to experience kibbutz life grew from his frequent visits to his older sister Osnat, who lived on Kibbutz HaZorea. From ninth to twelfth grade, he studied at ORT Hof HaSharon High School at Kibbutz Shefayim, majoring in electronics and computers. In 1989, he enlisted in the IDF Signal Corps and served as a communications technician for four years. After his military service, Yossi traveled through New Zealand and Australia, where he embarked on extreme adventures — including bungee jumping from a height of 102 meters. Throughout his life, even as an adult, he insisted on riding every terrifying, high, and twisting roller coaster he came across in amusement parks across Europe. In 2001, Yossi moved to Kibbutz Be’eri, following his brother Eli. He began working at the Be’eri Printing Press, first on the production floor in the wrapping department, later taking on management roles in the packaging and envelope divisions, and eventually becoming the logistics and procurement manager. After a short time working outside the kibbutz, he returned to Be’eri Printing as head of security and safety, becoming part of the factory’s leadership team. Alongside his professional work, Yossi completed both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and planned to continue developing his expertise in economics and marketing. In every role he took on, Yossi stood out for his drive to act — and to do good. He was always dedicated, professional, and motivated by a deep desire to make a meaningful difference. During this time, Yossi met Nira, a nurse in the hematology-oncology department at Soroka Hospital. The two married in 2005. A year later, their first daughter, Yuval, was born, and they became a family. In 2009, their second daughter, Ofir, was born, and a year and four months later, their youngest, Oren, joined them. Yossi, Nira, and their children became an inseparable part of the Be’eri community. The transition from Tel Aviv to the kibbutz came naturally to Yossi — he became part of the kibbutz, and the kibbutz became part of him. Yossi volunteered with other kibbutz members at Bereshit , a shelter providing hot meals and a safe space for homeless youth. He felt it was a privilege to help teenagers in crisis and never missed the monthly volunteer evenings. His specialty was the barbecue — and when new kids arrived at the shelter, the veterans would tell them, “If Yossi’s coming tonight, there’s a good chance there’ll be steaks.” The Be’eri synagogue was also close to Yossi’s heart. He served as a cantor and regularly attended prayer with his daughters from the time they were small. Over the years, he became involved in the synagogue’s upkeep and organization — during holidays and throughout the year — always with humility and quiet dedication. He was slated to take over the synagogue’s management and was part of the team planning for its future. Yossi knew how to fill his free time well. He loved watching nature and history programs, enjoyed extreme sports and soccer, liked solving crossword puzzles, and could fix absolutely anything around the house — a true handyman. But above all, Yossi loved surfing — especially with his daughters. For him, the quality time began already on the drive to the beach and continued between the waves. He cherished these moments, seeing them as the most important thing in life. Together, they created countless precious memories. On October 7, 2023, Yossi was abducted from his home and taken into Gaza. Those who were held captive with him have repeatedly testified how much his calm presence helped them — even in the darkest, most frightening moments. Yossi protected, comforted, and supported them, acting as a father figure to the younger captives until his very last day. Yossi was murdered on the ninety-seventh day of captivity — January 10, 2024 — when the building where he was held collapsed following an Israeli Air Force strike. Yossi was a man of peace. A devoted and loving family man who cherished life’s simple joys. Who is the man who desires life, who loves days to see goodness Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceitfully. Shun evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it. This is how he lived.This was his way. May his memory be blessed. Back 16.09.1970 - 14.01.2024 53 years old

Mourning the victims of Kibbutz Be'eri Ilan Weiss Life Story Ilan was born in Holon. He was the firstborn child of his mother, Miki (Miriam), a native Israeli, and the third child of his father, Avri (Avraham), a Holocaust survivor who had arrived in Israel as a young boy from Hungary. Ilan’s parents married when his father was a young widower with two children, Amir and Raviv. When Ilan was two and a half years old, his younger sister, Osnat, was born. From infancy, Ilan was energetic, mischievous, and endlessly curious. He started walking at just nine months old and could never sit still. As a child, he loved family outings visiting relatives in Haifa. His father would lower the backseat of the car, and Ilan and his sister would snuggle up there with blankets, pillows, and their beloved dog, "Humit" ("Brownie"). In the tenth grade, Ilan moved to Kibbutz Ramat Rachel as a yeled hutz (boarding student). The kibbutz children attended the regional school in Givat Brenner, but Ilan was never particularly drawn to academics; he preferred the open fields and green pastures. He often joined the farm workers in the surrounding wheat fields near the school. Despite this, he managed to complete twelve years of schooling, a feat he credited to a devoted homeroom teacher who made sure he didn’t drop out. During his military service, Ilan enlisted in the combat engineering corps. However, after sustaining an injury, his medical profile was lowered. Recognizing his abilities, his commanders allowed him to choose a new assignment. He chose to become an air traffic controller and served at Nevatim Airbase, a role he loved. From then on, he could recognize aircraft types just by the sound of their engines and developed a deep fascination with aviation. After his discharge from the army, Ilan returned to Ramat Rachel and began working in agriculture, gaining expertise in cotton cultivation and plant protection. In 1992, he arrived at Kibbutz Be’eri to work in the crop division and became the first certified bambach (kibbutznik on sabbatical) on the kibbutz. It was here that he met Shiri, a kibbutz member who worked in education. In 1995, they married. Shiri’s parents welcomed Ilan as a son of their own, and he embraced them as additional parents. Over the years, the couple was blessed with three daughters—Meital[RA1] , Ma’ayan, and Noga. Ilan was captivated by his daughters and was a devoted, loving family man who gave his all to his wife and children. The girls were incredibly close to him, always turning to him for advice and support. A beloved "family member" was also Ketem ('Blotch"), their cherished dog, who lived with them for ten years until he died on that tragic "Black Saturday." The family loved traveling together, both in Israel and abroad, and going to concerts. Ilan had a deep appreciation for country music and was an avid fan of the dance group Lord of the Dance , attending every one of their performances in Israel. In August 2023, the family traveled to Budapest, where Ilan was deeply moved to find the childhood home of his father. During the COVID years, Ilan discovered a passion for cooking and enjoyed preparing meals for the family. From then on, they made it a tradition to eat at home regularly, including Friday-night dinners and holiday meals. He also loved hosting extended family gatherings for barbecues. Once a year, Ilan would go on casino cruises with friends, sometimes winning, sometimes losing, but always coming out even. Every weekend, he would go cycling with Gil Boyum (Shiri’s late brother) and another close friend. After work, he loved unwinding with a cold beer in the garden he lovingly tended. Over the years, Ilan worked in agriculture and simultaneously served as the kibbutz’s security coordinator. Later, he took on the role of managing the crop division. During this time, he also pursued a bachelor’s degree in a special program for managers at Ruppin College. Together with Avshal (of blessed memory), who was then the economic coordinator, he spearheaded the effort to remove Be’eri from the Yacham (Ma'on Regional farming Organization) organization. After completing his studies, Ilan began working in the kibbutz printing press, in the Bewe department. After three years, he transitioned to managing the spare parts warehouse at the garage. Upon the kibbutz’s request, he returned to his roots—working in landscaping—and later became the infrastructure manager, a newly established role designed to oversee construction, electrical work, plumbing, and budget control, as well as supervision and planning for gas, roads, and communication networks. Ilan loved this position. He felt he was making a meaningful contribution by bringing order to complex systems and shaping the kibbutz’s infrastructure. He was meticulous in his work, always listening and committed to supporting the team leaders. He approached every challenge with both a community-oriented and systematic perspective. An organized and responsible manager, he was deeply loyal to the kibbutz and ensured that decisions were carried out, even when they conflicted with his personal opinions. Throughout his various roles, Ilan was actively involved in numerous committees. Everywhere he went, he was known as a loyal friend—honest, hardworking, dedicated, and gifted with a unique sense of humor. For the last four years, he served as the deputy head of the local emergency response team (Tzachi). In his unassuming way, he was always someone to rely on, responding to every situation with precision and thoughtfulness. He was always ready to help—devoted, responsible, and fearless. No matter the event, he was there, arriving without hesitation. So, it was on the morning of Saturday, October 7. The kibbutz’s rapid response team (QRF) did not have a key to the armory because the security coordinator had been killed in the first moments of the terrorist invasion. Ilan was called to bring the key. He left his home and was murdered by terrorist gunfire while still in his club car (like a golf cart), on his way to protect the kibbutz he loved so deeply. After his murder, Ilan was abducted to Gaza. He was 56 years old. May his memory be a blessing. Back 03.11.1967 - 07.10.2023 56 years old

Shachar Zemach Life Story Shachar was a third-generation kibbutznik: the eldest son of Doron and Shlomit, grandson to Ya'akov and Carmela Zemach, veterans of Be'eri who immigrated to Israel from Baghdad, and to Hannah and Yoel Epstein, born in Germany and members of Kibbutz HaMa'apil. They were an idealistic family. Doron spent ten years on Kibbutz Gilgal, and Shlomit spent five years on Kerem Shalom, assisting younger kibbutzim. When they met, they lived for a year on Kibbutz HaMa'apil and after a year, they decided to make their home in Be'eri. Doron worked in accounting, and Shlomit in the dental clinic, both of them active and engaged kibbutz members. Over the years, Shachar’s three brothers Yarden, Itai, Ido, and his sister Shai were born. A warm and loving family, they especially nurtured the bonds between the siblings, all of whom lived on the kibbutz. It seems that the family history greatly influenced Shachar's path in life. Shachar was not a strong child, but he was independent and opinionated. He grew up in Naomi Mocha's "beit yeladim" (the children's house) who earned the nickname Naomi Nescafe, and from there to kindergarten and "Kitat Petel". Shachar knew how to divide his energy between his studies and his social life. He was technical-minded, loved physics, but loved hanging out with friends just as much. It was a cohesive group, full of humor and fond of pranks. Shachar had a biting and cynical sense of humor, and his quips were an integral part of the classroom atmosphere. As a teenager, he worked at the petting zoo, did milking shifts in the dairy, and loved horseback riding. At the end of his studies, he felt the need to contribute what he could, and was accepted to Nitzana for a third-year service program. He saw himself as an instructor, a skill that was also utilized during his military service. He enlisted in pilot training, and after a few months he joined the Nahal's reconnaissance unit. The training course was relatively long, and a special group formed that stayed in touch long after they were discharged. Shachar became a squad commander on the course, without being an officer. He added a weekly study session to the military curriculum that he delivered meticulously, on both serious and less serious topics, such as a tutorial on types of coffee. During his military service, he served in the West Bank for an extended period, where his political awareness greatly developed. He was a committed leftist, and later took part in "Breaking the Silence", voted for "Meretz", and was active in elections. After completing his military service, Shachar returned to the kibbutz and worked at the printing house for about a year. He then began traveling. In the US, he drove an ice-cream truck; in Europe he was a security guard at a castle owned by the Safra family, and in South America he went rafting and broke his arm. When he returned from the trip, he was already focused on his studies. He completed his high-school equivalency and psychometric exams, and began his undergraduate studies in economics, politics, and government at Ben-Gurion University. Here too, he combined his social life with his studies. He lived in the Dalet quarter, organized public outdoor singalong evenings with beer, and at the same time, wrote political op-eds for different websites. While pursuing his master's degree in economics, he also wrote articles on the topic of retirement pensions, his area of expertise, and lectured at academic conferences. During his studies he met Ofri; they moved in together in Tel Aviv, where he worked at an economic-strategic consulting firm. After a year, he began working in the Accountant General’s Office at the Ministry of Finance in Jerusalem, specializing in pension funds. As usual, he was fully invested in his work and approached it seriously and professionally. Shahar's and Ofri's wedding was held in Be'eri's "Zula", in a civil ceremony whose text Shachar and Ofri wrote together with their friends. A few months later they moved to Be'eri. Shachar continued to work in Jerusalem, while Ofri managed a branch of the Enosh Association in Kiryat Gat. About three years later, their eldest daughter Ella was born. Shachar participated in the birth and was as steadfast and protective as a bodyguard. When Ella was a year old, Shachar accepted an offer to become CFO of the Be'eri printing house, leaving behind his promising career path in Jerusalem. He enjoyed his new role and saw himself developing in the printing business. Meanwhile, the small family moved into a larger apartment, and Shachar managed the renovation with great pleasure. When Neta was born, Shachar was already an experienced father, and Ofri adds: "a perfect dad," talking to the children as equals. Together they would go on trips, driving in a jeep or by bike, especially to Nahal Sakhaf which passes between Be'eri and Gaza, where water flows in winter and the almond trees bloom white. Together they picked figs and strawberries, and Shachar made jam from them. He loved to run in the Negev, training for the marathon, which he completed for the first time in 2022 and intended to do again. He used to run through the fields for two to three hours, with the music he loved in his headphones - Simon & Garfunkel, Tislam, and "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen - up to the Gaza fence and back. Shachar was a man of many friends, maintaining multiple social circles. He loved watching Liverpool or Maccabi Haifa games together, playing football in kibbutz and regional council tournaments, going out into the field and lighting bonfires, making potjiekos or simply preparing tea outdoors. He volunteered to manage the kibbutz's hiking gear storeroom, purchasing equipment and keeping precise records and close track of the items that had been loaned out. Friends say he was the ultimate combination of seriousness and light-heartedness. In the morning he'd wear a finance manager's suit, in the evening he'd light a bonfire with the kids, and once they were in bed, he'd invite his friends over for a hookah session. A serial entrepreneur: always inviting people to travel, see and do something together. He was a man who loved freedom, joy, and humor. He could quote The Big Lebowski or Catch-22 and wrote song parodies for every friend who got married. He loved to hang out, and was the ideal partner for long sessions at good restaurants. In the Kitat Tapuach-Petel, they knew that if they played strategy games, when it was Shachar's turn, he would deliberate for so long that you could go and make a coffee in the meantime, but under other circumstances he was the quickest and most assertive. On the night before Black Saturday, the Tapuach-Petel gang sat down to plan their third guys' trip. Shachar decided the trip would be to France, informed everyone, and as usual, fell asleep first on the chair. The next morning, Shachar was rushed to the rapid response team. His conduct that Black Saturday typified who he always was: a leader and determined, knowing exactly what needed to be done. He arrived at the casualty collection point in the kibbutz's dental clinic and fought from there, instilling confidence in everyone who fought alongside him. He requested from the IDF to bomb near the playground in Be’eri because there were many terrorists there, but his request wasn’t approved. While fighting, he phoned Ofri and asked her to lock the house. He shouted to the terrorists in English, "I’m not your enemy." He fought until the final bullet. Shachar loved life, loved people, was optimistic and brave, and saw every challenge in life as an opportunity. This is how we will remember him, and how we will continue telling his story to his children, Ella and Neta. May his memory be a blessing. Back 17.04.1984 - 07.10.2023 39 years old

Pesi Cohen Life Story Pesi was born in Magdiel (today, Hod Ha Sharon) on March 6, 1955. Her parents, the late Pnina and Shlomo Weisblatt, Holocaust survivors from Poland, met and married in Israel. They had three children: Hanna, Dani, and Pesi, their youngest daughter. Pnina was a housewife and Shlomo was one of the founders of Tnuva, and worked there all his life. At home, they spoke Yiddish. As is the custom in traditionally observant households, they celebrated the Jewish holidays and kept kosher. Their home was a modest and pleasant one, in which they behaved respectfully and courteously towards each other. Pesi always spoke of a happy childhood in a house with a yard full of toys that her father built. Like all her friends, she collected napkins, perfume bottles, and tiny dolls. She played all the classic Israeli childhood games—‘Hakafot’ and hide-and-seek, ‘Machanaim’ and ‘Salted Fish’—with friends in the neighborhood. She especially loved the Shavuot holiday—the blintzes, the water fights between the neighborhood children, and the abundant joy. Pesi was a good girl-shy, modest, friendly, and very loved. She was a tall, blonde-haired beauty with eyes as blue as the sea. She studied in a religious elementary school, majored in fashion at Orot High School and was a youth movement counselor for Noar Ha Oved (The Federation of Young Students and Workers). One of her greatest pleasures in life was going on trips around the country. But in her youth and throughout her younger years, Pesi was, first and foremost, aunt to the children of her beloved sister and her soul mate, Hanna. She was always happy to help her sister when her children were small, especially during the long periods when her brother-in-law, Zizi, was in the reserves and absent from home. In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, she served in the Sinai as a clerk in the 79th Armored Regiment of the 14th Brigade. After the army, she was a swimwear model for Gideon Oberson. Her children recall that she was embarrassed to discuss this chapter of her life. Pesi was one of the founding members of Kibbutz Moran in the Galilee. At a kibbutz movement singles event in Ashkelon, she met Rafi (now deceased) and fell in love. Pesi fancied building their home in Moran, but Rafi was attracted to Kibbutz Be’eri and he won out. They married in May 1979 in a grand kibbutz wedding that included the marriage of four other couples (Naomi and Daniel Alon, Ronit and Larry Plotkin, Tsila and Zafrir Keren, and Revital and Doron Talmor). Four children were born to Pesi and Rafi - two girls and two boys. Shay was born in 1980, followed by Hila (in 1981) and Keren (in 1984). Guy, their youngest, was born in 1994. Pesi was an ever-present mother. She watched over them all with a soft and loving hand. She was dedicated, and quite significant to them all. In those years, Pesi progressed professionally as well. She enrolled in the Kibbutzim College of Education and began teaching crafts and sewing in the local Be’eri school. For years, she was also a caregiver in Be’eri classrooms. The role of the caregiver back then was hugely important. Pesi formed strong relationships with the youth she worked with, even with those considered highly problematic. Years later, after they had matured into good people, they sought out Pesi’s children, eager to acknowledge how their mother had succeeded with them where others had not. Pesi paved the way into every heart, and they loved her in return. At the time of the ‘Rakefet Class’ gala, Pesi, pregnant with Guy, was lying in Soroka Hospital under a doctor’s strict bed-rest orders. But when she decided she could not possibly miss her students’ special event she had Rafi sneak her out of the hospital in her hospital gown. She changed clothes on the way and stepped on stage while experiencing mounting labor contractions. Not long after, she gave birth to Guy. Pesi completed her next project with Iris Gelbard. Together, they founded a handicrafts club for the senior kibbutzniks. Morning classes and afternoon classes were launched. After Iris, her dear friend and co-partner, passed away, the talented Pesi renamed the club "Iris House" in her loving memory. Pesi managed the shop for many years and was the life force of Iris House, which became an artistic outlet for golden-agers -- a magical place where older people gathered to paint, sculpt, sew, and embroider. Pesi showered love and patience on everyone who worked there, celebrated everyone’s birthday, and showcased their lovely fabric and wood handiwork in the 'Shai-li' shop she helped establish, which quickly became popular. Pesi was so proud that the club’s creations delighted children and decorated kids’ rooms and baby prams. With the shop key in her bag, Pesi answered calls from customers near or far, and opened the shop at any hour. Her daughters say that after missile attacks, when they discussed leaving the kibbutz, Pesi would ask: How can I evacuate? What about Iris House? And what will happen to the elders? The years passed, the children married, and ten grandchildren were born. All of them chose to live in Be’eri. Pesi was a dearly loved grandmother, a daily presence in her family’s lives. "Savtusheet," her teenage granddaughters called her, a Hebrew nickname they coined especially for her. They loved coming to her; they came after school to be pampered by their grandmother or to complain about their parents; she knew the right words to calm them. In her role as "taxi driver," Pesi readily chauffered grandson or granddaughter upon request, making sure she shared quality time with every one of her grandchildren. The sudden death of the Rafi in 2016 was a fateful crisis point. Hila attests: "After the death of our father, Mother had two options - to live or not live. She chose life, and we were with her." Pesi gathered the pieces and found the strength to volunteer on the Kibbutz council, work with childless seniors, sing with the "Parliament of the Valley," exercise and swim, keep fit, and renew and fortify ties with friends from every period of her life. She had many groups of friends and was active in them all: the group from Kibbutz Moran, the group from The Israel National Trail, the groups she traveled with, the "eight" from Be’eri, six of whom were murdered on that Black Sabbath, and of those, the "trio" - Yona, Mazi, and Pesi--close, brave, life-long friends. They loved being together, took care of each other, and stuck by each other’s side as they wandered the remote places of the world: Namibia, India, Mexico, and Vietnam, and also to Dahab and to Sharm they traveled, and often it was Hanna, Pesi's sister, and Shosh (Sharon's mother), who encouraged them to go and enjoy. On the eve of Simchat Torah, they were all together in the Be’eri synagogue, and after, the family gathered, as always, for Friday night dinner. Hanna, her husband Yitzhak (Zizi), and their son Tal were there to celebrate with them. They danced and sang around the big table on the balcony, in the family dining room—which, only two months earlier, was expanded and enclosed so nicely. The next day, Saturday, at 6:30 in the morning, when the alarms sounded, Pesi entered the safe room with her sister and family. Pesi messaged and spoke with her children and friends. When she wrote that the terrorists were inside the house, Shoham, her grandson, wrote back that the terrorists had also reached them. At 12:56, she texted that she loved him and said goodbye-to him and all her children and grandchildren. Pesi understood it was the end and disconnected. Her children later learned that all the neighbors were massed together on her balcony, and only one kibbutz member remained alive to tell what happened in those last moments. How sad that Pesi and Hanna, who never separated, died together, and with them, her brother-in-law Zizi and her nephew, Tal. Pesi was a modest and strong woman with a tremendous heart. She loved to help. She always saw the glass as half full. Pesi was loved and respected in the Be’eri community. She was honest and straightforward, true to herself. She radiated goodness, and that goodness enveloped everyone around her. She was all about giving. Her words resonate with those left behind: "Don't expect that what you give to others will be given to you in return. Give with all your heart and be happy." This was Pesi's will to her children - Shai and Sharon, Hila and Kobi, Keren and Itai, Guy and Danielle, and to her grandchildren - Shir, Shoham, Shenhav, Snir, Yahli, Daria, Tohar, Romi, Ori and Goni. May her memory be a blessing. Back 06.03.1955 - 07.10.2023 68 years old

Chen Even Life Story Chen was born in Be’eri in July 1977. He loved to walk barefoot on the paths of the kibbutz, and spend long hours in the petting zoo. He was a playful, adventurous boy. His friends knew that they could rely wholeheartedly on Chen. He would always be there, warm and cordial, considerate and gentle, offering help naturally, with generosity, humility and simplicity, as if everything was a matter of course. Chen served in the General Staff unit. In the unit he excelled in working with cars. As a professional, he took the skills he had developed and brought them back to the kibbutz, and after his release worked in the fields. He studied land and water at Ruppin College, and was well versed in all fields of agriculture in Be’eri. He was a true farmer, hardworking, and loved the land. He was a combination of a responsible adult and a mischievous child, always with one or two children on his shoulder, or on the tractor, or on some other agricultural vehicle, on the way to or from the fields. And in between he rescued vehicles of friends or of strangers who got stuck in the mud while seeking out the magnificent anemones during the "Red South" festival. Chen liked to go on off-road trips, which included chasing floods in the Negev. He went on nature trips with his family, sleeping in tents in the field. He loved the kibbutz very much, and was an equally rough and gentle kibbutznik. He met Rinat when she was working in a paid post-army kibbutz job at the Hatzav kindergarten. The spark ignited immediately, and they became a couple. Opposites are complementary in many ways. Great mutual respect, love and deep friendship prevailed between them. The house of the Even family was warm and open. Chen would take care of the children, who were the center of his life and the source of his pride. Rinat cared for the whole world, always available, always concerned. The Even family home was a center of support and love on the kibbutz. They were humble, surrounded by friends, loving and loved by everyone. Chen was murdered on Saturday morning. Messages from rescue seekers were later found on his phone. Everyone knew they could rely on him. Tomer and Nir, the whole kibbutz stands with you. Forever. He was 46 years old when he died. May his memory be blessed. Back 15.07.1977 - 07.10.2023 46 years old

Ma'ayan Bar Life Story Ma'ayan was born on 23 February 1958, to Asaf Salvi, a founding member of the kibbutz, and Tamar, a Holocaust survivor, who was particularly active in the community. Ma'ayan was their third child, born after her brother Amit, and her sister, Idit. Ma'ayan grew up in the days when children slept in communal children’s houses. First, she was in the ‘Kalanit’ kindergarten and, later, in the "Kitat Rotem". Like her siblings, she was a member of the Be’eri swim team. But while Amit and Edith were ‘well-behaved’, Ma'ayan was a rebel as a child. She did not like school, and often ended up slamming doors; her rebellious nature often made things difficult for her parents. Nevertheless, Ma'ayan always made sure to attend the family’s four o’clock teatime every day, and partook of the standard menu of bread, cheese, tomato, jam, and tea – and the daily dose of family cohesion. Later in her life, Ma'ayan took care of her mother Tamar with great devotion, and she maintained close relationships with her brother and her sister throughout the years, keeping up with every detail of their day-to-day lives, their friends, and, above all, her nieces, and nephews, who returned her love. Once every month or so, the three siblings would meet by themselves, and reminisce about the receding world of their childhood. During her military service, Ma'ayan was stationed in the Southern Command Headquarters in Be’er Sheva, and in the evenings, she would return home to sleep. Immediately after the army, as is customary in the kibbutz movement, she enlisted for a voluntary, third year of service at Kibbutz Eilot, where she worked with children. On her return to Be’eri, she worked for many years as a house mother at the school. Later, she became the house mother of young adults from other kibbutzim, who came to work for a period on Be’eri, often to save up money for a post-army trip. Ma'ayan also worked in the clothing warehouse, and managed the Kibbutz members’ club. In October 1983, Ma'ayan married Yuval Bar, and the story of how they met is mentioned later. Meanwhile, the kibbutz had already transitioned to new sleeping arrangements for children, who now slept at home with their families, rather than in the communal children’s houses. Thus, Ma'ayan and Yuval’s children, Tom, Moran, Noi, and Itai grew up sleeping at home. As a mother, and having been rebellious in her youth, Ma'ayan understood her children’s need for independence and, although certain boundaries of what was permitted and what was forbidden were always clearly defined, her immediate response to their requests was always “yes,” or “everything is fine,” or “we’ll do it and then see.” And when Itai wanted to get a tattoo, she said: “Why not? Maybe I’ll get one too…”. In the early 1990s, when the children were still young, Ma'ayan and Yuval became the so- called adoptive parents of Keren Alankri, who came to live on the kibbutz without her birth family as a "yaldat hutz". Keren took on the role of ‘big sister’. Their relationship continued even after Keren left the kibbutz and had her own children, who are like grandchildren to Ma'ayan and Yuval. Ma'ayan was a happy and optimistic person. Every meeting with her began with a cup of coffee. She also enjoyed spending time in local cafes and in Be’er Sheva, and Tel Aviv. On the kibbutz, she liked to walk around barefoot, in bright, floral dresses, that matched her orange hair, and her cheerfully painted nails. Kibbutz members were used to seeing her walking barefoot along the paths with a stroller, smiling happily in her colourful dresses. Ma'ayan retired at the age of 62, a young, barefoot grandmother, who enjoyed devoting herself to caring for her six grandchildren, and eagerly awaited the birth of her seventh – a granddaughter. Her home was like a second home to Or, Ziv, Zohar, Klil, Binayah, and Sinai. 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 23.02.1958 - 07.10.2023 65 years old

Lior Tarshansky Life Story Lior was born on October 24th, 2007. He was due to celebrate his sixteenth birthday in late autumn, two weeks after he was murdered. Lior was a kibbutz child, a nature child walking barefoot around the kibbutz paths. People couldn’t take their eyes off this beautiful little boy, with his long hair and almond-like, slightly slanted eyes. Mowgli, they called him. Mowgli grew up to become Chumpa, and Tetro as well. Tetro was the name given to him by his good buddy Alon, who was also murdered by the terrorists. The girls used to call him Liori. He was a magnet for nicknames; a magnet for love. But first and foremost, Lior was his parents’ son. His mother, Reuma, is a movement therapist. His father, Ilya, made aliya from Russia and worked as the plumber of the kibbutz. Lior was also Gali’s elder brother and the younger brother of Eden on his fathers' side. As the first grandchild, Lior had earned the coveted status of being the baby everyone wanted to hold; a soft, gentle baby who loved to cuddle up. At the tender age of one he was injured by shrapnel from Kassam missiles fired at Beeri. Luckily, he survived – to become a naughty little boy, a “performer” who loved making up funny dances and fooling around. He liked wrestling in the living room with Gali; he liked playing Catan on family holidays and threatening he would beat everyone to the ground - which never really happened, except for once. And Lior was so high on that one-time victory – he couldn’t stop talking about it. There were many other things he loved: Maccabi Haifa, mom’s famous jachnoon. The latter had always been at the center of family gatherings, always anticipated with great joy. Every year, the family would rent a holiday cottage on Yom Kippur. It was a treasured family event where everyone could spend some time together, chattering, sharing, tightening up family ties. On Lior’s last Yom Kippur the family rented a cottage on the Gilboa mountain, and he came along with his girlfriend, Omer. Everyone was joking about this family tradition, which started when Lior was a one-year-old baby, realizing what a significant stretch of time had since passed. As he was born and raised in Beeri, the kibbutz was part of Lior – just as he was a part of the kibbutz. To a great extent, the kibbutz had shaped the young man he was becoming. As an adolescent he was more aware of himself – a little less of the nonsensical kid and a little more of a ‘kibbutznik’, a proper kibbutz member. He felt strongly connected to the kibbutz way of life, to his Afarsek classmates in Beeri, and believed in taking part, contributing and undertaking all kinds of tasks. In the ninth grade he joined the Bar Mitzva team and spent the next two years getting up early, carrying heavy stuff around and helping whole heartedly wherever he was needed. This year he was chosen to be the Bar Mitzva guide – a highly valued position – which made him very excited and proud of himself. He was supposed to lead a group of twenty thirteen-year-olds. At home he had his exclusive responsibilities as well – french fries, for example; everyone knew this was his realm, and no-one else dared near the fryer at barbeques. He was also the favorite babysitter of his younger cousins. He loved kids, had tons of patience and a great approach to them – and they loved him back. Lior was a high-school student at Nofey Habsor. A bright one - yet not a “wonk”, to say the least. It either came easy to him, or not at all. He was never the one to be dragged into something others were doing, or to rebel. Lior knew exactly what he wanted and had his own unique way of getting there. If he ever skipped a lesson, it was for a good reason – Maccabi Haifa. Shakked, his former homeroom teacher, says he had always asked her how she was doing. It was so natural for him, so untypical of his age. Such maturity he possessed, such depth and inner peace. A true “mensch”. Shakked says she was very happy to witness his flourishing relationship with Omer. “They were both so gentle, elegant and photogenic together,” she recounts. Two giant hearts, yet humble and kind, always capable of truly seeing the other. Lior was a quiet person, the classic hot shy-guy, but at the same time he was friendly and witty and funny. You couldn’t really get into a fight with him – his friends say they had never seen him lose his temper. It was so difficult to make him lose it that it became a major challenge: who’s going to make Lior truly angry. On one of their summer trips they said to him, “Listen, Lior, we’re all dying to see you scream. You just have to! Let’s go to the beach and shout together!” It became the trip-joke. They all went, “Shout, Lior!” but no-one could make him do it. Yam, his friend, says Lior was his confidant – he only told him (and his own father) things he wouldn’t tell anyone else. They once shared an electric scooter ride around the kibbutz, talking, talking, and talking – only to realize, at a certain point, it was five thirty a.m. and they had been talking for six hours nonstop. Lior loved diving – and not only into the depths of a heart-to-heart. He had an Advanced Open Water Diver license and planned on going on a diving safari. He loved other sports as well – ping pong, basketball and soccer, of course. A year before he was murdered, he flew to Paris with Tal - his uncle - and Yam, to watch a Maccabi Haifa game, and strolled around the city with sparkling eyes – so wholly enchanted by everything. Maccabi Haifa had an obituary published following Lior’s murder. He was supposed to celebrate his sixteenth birthday at their game against Maccabi Beer Sheva. On his birthday, his friends said, Maybe we should all just go down to the Dead Sea beach and scream our lungs out? But they never made it, and anyway – each of them knew that if Lior saw them standing there, screaming, he would simply crack up laughing. May his memory be a blessing. Back 24.10.2007 - 07.10.2023 16 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)