Here Lived
This was the home of Bijay and Dorin Rai Zaffrir and their three children, Maya, Neha, and Ram. Dorin and Bijay came to Nir Oz in 2010, right after they got married, and fell in love with the place.
Bijay worked in the kibbutz metalwork shop, and it became an inseparable part of who he is.
Dorin worked in animal-assisted therapy, working with children all around the region.
The home they built in Nir Oz was always open and full of life.
October 7th
On the terrible morning of October 7, the family locked themselves in the safe room when the sirens began and remained there for nearly 12 hours. Terrorists broke into the house shooting and spent the entire day destroying and looting it. It was only through Bijay’s courage, holding the safe room door shut throughout all those hours, that the family survived. Four times the terrorists nearly forced the door open, and four times Bijay managed to hold them off, until IDF forces arrived to rescue the family. While they were trapped inside, their animals were harmed, and most were taken to Gaza, including small rodents, birds, and others.
Their two dogs, Choti and Tika, were also taken but managed to escape and find their way back, and they are still with the family today.
Back in 2015, following Operation Protective Edge, Bijay had installed a bolt on their safe room door, which had none. Many neighbors asked him to make similar bolts for their safe room doors too, and on October 7, the locks Bijay had installed prevented terrorists from breaking into safe rooms and saved ten families!
On the morning of October 8, before the evacuation, Bijay was asked to assist with identifying and retrieving the remains of victims from the Kibbutz.
What Happened Since
The family now lives with the community in Karme Gat. Bijay still struggles with the sights and experiences of that day, but the family is courageously moving on in their rehabilitation journey.
