Here lived
This is the home of Gideon, Orna, Eran, Raz, Tal, and Irit, where they lived from 1979 to October 7, 2023.
Gideon was born in Nahariya to parents who were among the founders of the city. He arrived at Nir Oz with the “Tzabar” group. During his 60 years in Nir Oz, he held central roles: He served as the treasurer, the economic, the community manager, and the secretary. He also chaired various economic committees. Outside his roles in the Kibbutz, he served as the CEO of the Negev Cooperative, the agricultural manager in Kibbutz Ma’ayan Tzvi, and was a member of the Eshkol regional council assembly.
A son to a farmers and gardeners’ family, and having formal training in these fields, he cultivated a magnificent garden around the house, growing mostly culinary and medicinal herbs in the last few years.
Twenty years ago, Gideon planted a vineyard, for local consumption, along with other Kibbutz members – among them Haim Peri, Yoram Metzger, and Gadi Moses, who were abducted to Gaza. Haim and Yoram were murdered in captivity, and Gadi, may he live a long life, returned after 482 days.
Orna arrived at Nir Oz in 1984, after her marriage to Gideon. She worked in education, a grammar and homeroom teacher at the regional high school.
Eran lived in Moshav Ein Habesor with his wife and three children.
Raz lived in Kibbutz Tze’elim with his wife and four sons.
Tal lived in Nir Oz with her husband and their three children – they were miraculously spared, their home being among only six houses the terrorists did not enter.
Irit lived in Tel-Aviv.
October 7th
Orna recounts: On October 7, 2023, as soon as the siren sounded at 6:29 a.m., Gideon and I entered the safe room, as we always did. Shortly after, we realized that this wasn’t another round of attack, but something much more serious. We managed to change clothes and get some water, our phones, and chargers.
After a while, we heard the terrorists entering our home. Gideon stepped to the door of the reinforced room to make sure the handle is locked, but exactly then, the terrorists opened fire on the door, and he was very seriously injured in his right arm and left hand.
For hours we cried out for help, but help did not come.
All my efforts to stop the bleeding went in vain. Gideon bled to death. In a few hours, he was no longer alive.
The IDF arrived about two hours later.
What Happened Since
Gideon was murdered a week before his 80th birthday. Two weeks later, he was buried temporarily in Kibbutz Hatzerim. On May 23, 2024, we held a second funeral, and he was laid to rest in the Nir Oz cemetery.
Tal, Eyal, and their children, Irit and I, live in Kiryat Gat alongside the entire Nir Oz community.
Eran and his family live in Ein Habesor, and Raz and his family live in Tze’elim.
