Avner was born in Nir Oz on January 3, 1967, the son of Pnina and the late Yoram Goren, among the kibbutz’s founders, and the brother of the late Dganit and Smadar.
Avner was devoted to the values of work ethic and personal responsibility instilled in him from childhood. In his youth, he was active in Hashomer Hatzair as a member, counselor and youth movement leader and later volunteered for military service in the IDF’s Education Corps’ filming unit. Over the years, he worked in various branches of the kibbutz – at Nirlat, with the chickens, in landscaping and later in accounting. Quietly and modestly, he always helped and shared his knowledge and experience with the kibbutz and its members. In addition, he was a man of intellect and creativity, and the witty pieces he wrote became part of the melodies and celebrations of kibbutz holidays.
In 1997, he met Maya. They married and became devoted parents to their four children – Asif, Bar, Gal and Dekel. Avner was a supportive, wise, witty and creative father. He loved to cook – filling the house with the aromas of his dishes and the sounds of music, which was central to his life. He enjoyed solving Friday crossword puzzles with his children, going on walks, watching judo matches and tennis, basketball and soccer games on television and laughing together at Eretz Nehederet. He made funny faces, told jokes – some hilariously silly – and could just as easily engage in deep conversations.
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 the family of Aunt Smadar.
During their 25 and a half years of marriage, Avner and Maya reached out to one another through exciting, happy, frightening and difficult moments. Yet on October 7, each was forced to face the horror alone, confronted by the cruelest evil. Maya was in the infant house, where she was murdered and her body abducted. Avner was sheltering in the safe room at home with Scar. Scar was murdered, and Avner was taken alive and subsequently murdered. He was later found dead in the fields.
He was laid to rest in the soil of Nir Oz, the kibbutz where he was born and lived his entire life. Maya was returned after 293 days in Hamas captivity and laid to rest alongside Avner.
He was 56 years old when he was murdered.
May Avner’s memory be a blessing.
