Maya was born on May 5, 1967, in Ramat Gan and was dedicated to education from a young age.
During her teenage years, she was a counselor and troop leader in the Scouts, and during her military service, she served as a commander and sergeant in the Gadna youth corps. Later, she studied early childhood education and after arriving in the kibbutz, worked for many years as a devoted metapelet and kindergarten teacher, caring for numerous children, toddlers and infants. Maya was always happy to share her knowledge and experience with anyone who sought her guidance, doing so with humility and love. She took a genuine interest in the welfare and lives of those around her.
Maya moved to Nir Oz because of her love for Avner, whom she met in 1997. They married and were loving parents to Asif, Bar, Gal and Dekel. Maya was a caring, thoughtful, wise and smiling mother. She was not a great food enthusiast, but she enjoyed chocolate milk with Mekupelet, chocolate and milkshakes – especially when they were prepared for everyone. She loved going for walks with her children, watching movies, often dozing off in front of the TV in the living room, and listening to and sharing the details of daily life and the little moments. She always made sure everyone was smiling and lacked for nothing.
In recent years, Avner and Maya lived in Nir Oz with their daughter Dekel and the family’s cat and dog, George and Scar. Their home in Nir Oz was a warm and loving place where the family gathered, along with Aunt Smadar’s family.
Throughout their 25 and a half years of marriage, Avner and Maya supported each other through exciting, joyful, frightening and challenging moments. Yet on October 7, they were compelled to face the horror alone, confronted by the cruelest evil. Avner sought shelter in the safe room at home with Scar. Scar was murdered, and Avner was taken alive and subsequently murdered. He was later found in the fields – and laid to rest in the soil of the kibbutz.
That morning, as on many other Saturdays, Maya chose to rise early to tidy the infant house, her workplace – where she was shot, abducted while in critical condition and then murdered.
After 293 days in Hamas captivity, Maya was returned by Israel’s security forces for burial and laid to rest in the soil of Nir Oz, the kibbutz that had become her home, beside her beloved Avner.
She was 56 when she was murdered.
May Maya’s memory be a blessing.
