This week has been very heavy. The emotional exhaustion is real and painful.
On Tuesday, Oded Lifshitz, the humanitarian peace maker from Nir Oz was laid to rest. Thousands lined the funeral route to help strengthen the family as Oded went to his final resting place. His wife Yocheved eulogized him and said the following:
"Our abduction and your death have shaken me to the core,” said Yocheved at her husband’s funeral. “We fought all through the years for social justice, for peace. To my sorrow, we were hit by a terrible blow by those we helped on the other side. I stand here staggered to see the number of graves, and the terrible destruction of our community that was completely abandoned on October 7.”
Then, on Wednesday, the Bibas family funeral was held. Again, thousands came and lined the roads on the route to the cemetery to offer their support to Yarden Bibas, condolences to the family, and to mourn a mother, Shiri, and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, ripped from this world by monsters. Yarden eulogized his wife and sons yesterday.
“Shiri, this is the closest I’ve been to you since October 7th, and I can’t kiss or hug you, and it’s breaking me!” he said and apologized to his wife and children for not being able to save them from the terrorists, despite putting up a fight. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you all,” he said.
“Protect me from bad decisions. Shield me from harmful things and protect me from myself. Guard me so I don’t sink into darkness. Mishmish, I love you!” he said.
Addressing Ariel, he said, “You made me a father. You transformed us into a family. You taught me what truly matters in life and about responsibility.”
Speaking to Kfir, he said, “I didn’t think our family could be more perfect, and then you came and made it even more perfect.”
Shiri was buried holding her sons, wrapped in an eternal embrace, in a single coffin. Shiri's parents were murdered on October 7, thus making this family's pain intergenerational, from grandparents to babies.
After an emotionally exhausting two days, Israel received notice that 4 deceased hostages will be released overnight. After forensic analysis, the 4 bodies that came home are those of ...
Shlomo Mantzur (85) was killed and taken captive by Hamas terrorists who broke into his Kibbutz Kissufim home on October 7. At least eight Kissufim residents and six Thai laborers were also murdered on October 7, and around four people were abducted and taken to Gaza. Mantzur’s wife of 60 years, Mazal, was miraculously able to escape. Mantzur was born in Iraq, and survived the Iraqi Farhud (holocaust) eventually leading to the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Iraq. Shlomo came to Israel. He lived in Kissufim for most of his adult life, with Mazal.
Itzik Elgarat (69), was in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of October 7 when Hamas terrorists attacked his house, shooting him through his safe room door, injuring him, and taking him captive. Itzik had gone to lock the safe room door when the terrorists shot at the door. Danny, his brother, was on the phone with him at the time and could hear yelling in the background. Itzik said, “Danny, this is the end, this is the end.” His family later tracked his cellphone into Gaza.
Tsahi Idan (49), tried to save his family by physically holding the door of his family's safe room shut. The terrorists shouted, “Open the door” in English, and then a shot rang out, and Tsahi realized that Maayan, the oldest daughter who was helping him hold the door closed, had been shot and killed, falling into his arms. The shocking murder of his daughter broke Tsahi. The door opened and he was taken away to Gaza by terrorists who promised his other younger daughters that he would come home.
Ohad Yahalomi (49), tried to save his family when the door to his family's safe room wouldn't lock properly. He sat outside the door, armed with one handgun and ready to defend his family. Ohad was shot in the leg and dragged into Gaza. His wife, Batsheva, and children were kidnapped as well. While being transported to Gaza, Batsheva and her daughters were able to flee their captors. They walked for 3 hours in their flip flops and pajamas to get back to their Kibbutz. Their son, Eitan (12) was taken to Gaza and released in a ceasefire agreement in November 2023.
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