In Memory

Alon Lulu Shamriz was a hostage mistakenly shot dead by the IDF during fighting in northern Gaza earlier today.
He was a computer engineering student. His parents are from Iran.

Aviv Baram, 33, died while defending his hometown of Kfar Aza from Hamas-led terrorists who attacked the kibbutz on October 7. He leaves behind a wife and 2 kids.

Baram worked as a production tech for some of Israel’s biggest musical acts,

Aviv Wertheim, from Ramat Hasharon, was murdered in the brutal terrorist attack in Kfar Azza. Wertheim served in the Air Force and was a career airman. After his discharge, he settled in Kfar Azza with his wife, Dorit Wertheim Bar Ilan. Dorit worked at a kibbutz company in Kfar Azza.  During the tragic Sabbath, terrorists broke into their home and murdered Aviv and his wife. 

The Kutz family was murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th. Livnat, a graphic designer, created an initiative to incorporate crafts into education. Aviv worked in consulting and agriculture. Their daughter Rotem trained army recruits, and sons Yonatan and Yiftach were students and aspiring basketball professionals. 

Avraham Channanel Hindi, 38, a resident of Kfar Azza, fought fiercely to protect the village’s residents, but was ultimately murdered by terrorists. He is survived by a wife and three young children.

Bilha Epstein, 81, was murdered by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Kfar Azza on October 7. Bilha and her husband, Amos were considered among the kibbutz elders, having lived there for more than 50 years, both holding many positions in the community over the decades. 

David was an agricultural and irrigation expert who was sent by the State of Israel to many countries, primarily in Latin America. He served in Honduras for three years and received praise from the Honduran president, the ministers of agriculture, and all the professionals he worked with. While stationed, he often spoke about how much he loved Kfar Azza: “Despite the security tensions, it’s paradise."

Dudu Katchko Katzir, was tragically killed in Kibbutz Kfar Azza. He was an amazing father to Anat, Ehud, Yanai, Uria, and Elia. An incredible partner and soulmate to Ayelet. A wonderful grandfather to all the grandchildren. A loving brother to Dalia and Moshe. For the kibbutz community, he was a symbol of vitality — ‘Katchko.’

Eitan and Tami were murdered by terrorists in their home in Kfar Azza. An admirable couple, they were the very definition of ‘the salt of the earth.’ Tami will be remembered as a true lover of people and a glorious grandmother. May both of their memories be blessed.

Murdered in Kfar Aza, he lived most of his life near the Gaza sea, dedicating his days to populating the area. He leaves behind a wife, children, and grandchildren.

A member of Kfar Azza and the Kinneret group, he was named after his uncle Eliyahu (Elik) Goldberg, who was killed in the battle of Ein Gev during the War of Independence.

Erin was the Southern District Coordinator for the “Lifeline” department of the “Latet” organization. A remarkable woman and a fighter for justice, she worked tirelessly to help Holocaust survivors and ex-convicts in her area. Committed and uncompromising, she believed in the inherent goodness of people. Erin, along with her mother, was tragically killed in Kibbutz Kfar Azza.

Itay and Hadar Berdichevsky, both 30, hid their 10-month-old twins in their safe room, when terrorists broke into their home in Kfar Aza. They fought until their last breath so that their infants, who spent about 12-14 hours alone in the shelter before being rescued, could survive. Their memory is a call to action, a testament to bravery, love, and family.

Izhar, Gila, and Daniel were murdered together in their home in Kfar Aza on October 7. Izhar was a longtime police officer who retired in 2020 with the rank of assistant commissioner, after holding numerous senior positions in the Border Police, most recently as commander of its West Bank division. Gila was a nurse  who worked in Ashkelon. Daniel was a paramedic who dreamed of studying medicine in the future.

Lili Itamari, 63, and her husband Ram Itamari, 56, were murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7. They are survived by their two children, Tomer and daughter Raz. Lili retired from her job in the Education Ministry earlier this year and began focusing on her passion: traveling abroad and organizing vacations.  Ram worked as a transportation manager and safety officer. Ram is remembered as “an extraordinary man — a kibbutznik in the full sense of the word, prickly on the outside but soft on the inside.”

Murdered in Kfar Aza in the presence of her husband and two young children, aged 7 and 9. Resided in Kfar Haim, she was killed during a Shabbat weekend visit to her husband's family.

Michal and Guy were murdered in their home. She was found embracing Guy, who had stayed with her at home because she didn't feel well on that fateful Saturday when the massacre occurred in the kibbutz. He watched over her until the very end. Her friends eulogized: "Michal was a special and inspiring woman, a wonderful writer. Michal had a wicked sense of humor and extraordinary writing talent. She was a unique personality with a big and tender heart, a contagious laugh, and sparkling eyes."

Mira’s sister-in-law wrote: “During the long, difficult hours we spent in the bomb shelter, with injured Sivan and a sense of helplessness, I thought of you. Not just because we hadn’t heard from you since morning but because we needed to calm down. We did deep breathing exercises, just as you taught us. We missed our family caregiver, the one who knows what to do to reduce anxiety. Had you seen Noam, Rotem, Moran, and Ella, you’d be proud. They are optimistic, grateful for everything they learned from you…”

Modi Amir was a brilliant and resourceful man and a pillar of his family. Modi was born in Giv’atayim in 1955, and he came to Kibbutz Kfar-Aza as part of a Nahal group at the age of 18. He met his wife Batya while studying for a biology BSc degree at Ben-Gurion University. They have established their house in Kibbutz Kfar-Aza, where they raised three daughters and a son. Modi was murdered at the age of 67 in his house in Kibbutz Kfar-Aza, early morning of October 7, 2023.

Master Sergeant Nadav Amikam, 39, a resident of Kibbutz Kfar Azza, was a woodworking teacher at the ‘Yehiel’ school in Tel Shahar. On the Friday evening before the massacre, he celebrated the Sukkot holiday with his family at Kibbutz Dorot and decided to return to Kibbutz Kfar Azza to look after the dog. Nadav was a member of Kfar Azza’s civil defense squad.  Nadav was killed while defending his kibbutz and its residents. He leaves behind a wife and two children. May his memory be blessed.

Yam was a platoon commander for recruits in the Telecommunications Corps. Nadav was well-known in Israel’s triathlon community as a member of the remarkable extreme team and participated in many competitions. Friends describe him as a man of substance and integrity, salt of the earth, an athlete, a man of resilience, a family man, and an unforgettable personality. Yam and Nadav were murdered together in Kibbutz Kfar Azza where they lived.

Naomi was born in Kibbutz Kfar Blum and joined Kfar Azza in the 1960s as the kibbutz nurse. Most of her years as a nurse were split between working on the kibbutz and in Soroka Hospital’s emergency room, where she worked until her retirement. After retiring, she continued to volunteer in the emergency room at Soroka, which became her second home. May her memory be blessed.

Naor Hassidim and his longtime girlfriend Sivan Elkabets were murdered in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7. The couple, who both grew up in Ashdod, were together since they met in high school at 16. They were killed inside Sivan’s apartment in the youth wing in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where her family moved a few years ago. Naor had recently started a new job in sales at a credit card company in Ashdod. Sivan was studying computer science at Sapir College in Sderot.

Netta Epstein, 22, jumped on a grenade to save his fiancée. He was set to be married in April but was murdered in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7. “He died so I could live, so I must live,” said Shavit, also 22,  about her fiancé.

Nira was born in Kibbutz Afikim and moved to Kfar Azza after her military service. Nira’s kibbutz, Afikim, was an established community that supported Kfar Azza in its early years, and she was among the founders of Kfar Azza. There, she met Akiva Ronen, and they married in the kibbutz that became her home and which she dearly loved. She cultivated a lovely decorative garden around her home.

Niv Raviv, 27 and Nirel Zini, 31, a young couple who were planning an engagement and life together, were murdered when Hamas terrorists stormed into Kfar Aza on October 7. The couple, who met while they were in the army, had moved to the kibbutz earlier this year seeking a quiet, simple life. Raviv had been pursuing a master’s degree in psychology while Zini was hoping to study law.

Nitzan, the son of the head of the “Sha’ar Hanegev” Regional Council, was initially declared missing following October 7 until his body was identified 12 days later. It was discovered that he had been murdered in his apartment in the kibbutz's youth residences. His mother said: “Nitzan was a child with a big heart, the first to reach out when help was needed. How much courage and willpower he had.”

Staff Sgt. Ofir Shoshani, 20, a commander at the Mifrasit Base in the Intelligence Corps, was slain inside her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7 by Hamas terrorists. Shoshani was close friends with Yam Goldstein, who was slain alongside her father on October 7 while the rest of her family was taken hostage. Their friends from high school got tattoos of two fairies to immortalize the two young women, who dressed up together as Tinkerbell on Purim in 10th grade.

Omer Hermesh, born and raised in Kfar Azza, was a devoted fan of Hapoel Tel Aviv and involved in many social initiatives among the team’s fans. He was 48 when he was killed. May his memory be a blessing.

Murdered by armed terrorists while trying to escape – not from a battlefield, but from his own home in the kibbutz where he lived for more than 25 years and where he raised his four children. May his memory be blessed.

Orly was murdered in her home in Kfar Aza along with her husband, David. Orly was a mother of four as well as a grandmother. She was a nurse and most recently served as director of nursing at Assaf Harofeh Clinic in Ashkelon. A local Israeli news site quoted her son, saying, “your home is the most warm and loving place there ever was. Family photos on the walls, drawings. You were so proud of us. Always.”

Roee and Smadar were tragically murdered and are buried side by side. Roee was a photographer and on the morning of the attack left the house to photograph the terrorists then immediately returned. Terrorists shot Smadar. Their children, Michael and Amalia, who were hiding, remained in the shelter with their mother's body. Roee, who was outside the house holding the hands of their child Abigail was also  killed. Abigail was kidnapped to Gaza.

Shahar Aviani, 56, was the security coordinator of Kfar Azza. He fought bravely, risking his life to protect his family and home. A heroic man who saved his family and many of his peers. A wonderful person, pleasant to interact with, intelligent, and always willing to help everyone.

Shahaf lived his life with vibrant energy. On that Simchat Torah evening, he twirled with joy, his nephews perched high on his shoulders, little knowing it would be their last dance. The cruel dawn of the next day cruelly snatched him away, even as he stood ready, donned in his military uniform, to serve. Remembered in hearts with profound love and an ache that never fades, Shahaf was the embodiment of bravery, a dear friend, and a soul whose smile lit up every room. Beloved by all who knew him.

Cindy Flash, a 67-year-old American-Israeli, and her Israeli husband Igal Flash, 66, were both killed by Hamas terrorists while trying to hide in their safe room on October 7 in Kfar Aza. Cindy, a native of Minnesota, moved to Israel decades ago where she met and married the Israeli-born Igal, the son of Holocaust survivors. Cindy was a peace activist who had protested against past Israeli wars.

Roee and Smadar, were tragically murdered and are buried side by side. Roee was a photographer and on the morning of the attack, Roee left the house to photograph the terrorists then immediately returned. Terrorists shot Smadar. Their children, Michael and Amalia, who were hiding, remained in the shelter with their mother's body. Roee, who was outside the house holding the hands of their child Abigail was also  killed. Abigail was kidnapped to Gaza.

Tal Eilon, a lover of the sea, his family and his community of Kfar Azza, was killed protecting his beloved home. Eilon commanded his community security team and was the first to mobilized to protect Kfar Azza during the initial infiltration of Hamas from Gaza on October 7, 2023. Together with his father, they were able to eliminate three terrorists before Eilon fell in battle,

Tova and her daughter Erin were together in their home in Kfar Aza and were killed mercilessly. They had moved away from the settlement of Dugit but continued to live in the Gaza envelope, all for the sake of settling the land of Israel. Tova was a teacher and is remembered by a student’s mother as someone who cared deeply for her students.

Uri Russo was murdered while defending Kibbutz Kfar Aza from terrorists. Russo, a mechanical engineer, was a member of the on-call security team at Kfar Aza and went out to defend the kibbutz when it was attacked by Hamas. He was able to kill six attackers before he was gunned down. His wife and their three daughters, Maya, 13, Alona, 11, and Ye’ela, 9, hid in the family safe room for 14 hours while the fighting raged and the Hamas gunmen rampaged through the kibbutz, murdering many of their neighbors.

Winner was murdered in the kibbutz where he lived and which inspired his debut film, "The Kibbutz Story". He and his partner, Shay-Lee Atary, were at home with their one-month-old daughter, Shaya, when terrorists attempted to enter their safe room. Winner held the rescue window handle to prevent the terrorists from entering, allowing Atary to escape with Shaya and find refuge in a nearby storage area, where they remained hidden for nearly a day. Winner’s body was discovered three days later. 

Yotam Haim, 28, was taken hostage by Hamas from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, and accidentally slain by IDF troops. Haim, a drummer for the heavy metal band Persephore, was memorialized in a ceremony imbued with music, in which his loved ones spoke openly about his mental health struggles and the tragedy which ended his young life.

Yuval was murdered by Hamas terrorists during the attack on the kibbutz

Yuval was a young, strong, handsome man. His absence will be felt by his community, this land, and us all. He was killed in Kibbutz Kfar Azza. May his memory be a blessing. He was killed while battling Hamas terrorists who attacked the kibbutz.