Here Lived
Shani Goren lived here – Shani, Shanili, Shanini, Shanatzu, Shanitzi… these were all the nicknames she was known by on Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Shani was born on the kibbutz and was the driving force behind celebrations and events on the kibbutz, both large and small. An iconic educator, active in the community, and loved by all.
October 7th
On October 7, 2023, Shani was in her safe room, which was also her bedroom. During those long hours in the safe room, she was in touch with friends and family. At one point, she wanted to join Arbel and Ariel in their safe room, but her brother, Amit Goren, who was bravely fighting in Kibbutz Be’eri, ordered her not to leave her house under any circumstance.
While Shani was speaking on the phone with her sister-in-law, Nofar Steinberg, terrorists broke into her safe room and threw a grenade inside, yet the grenade didn’t explode. The terrorists then burst into the room, dragged her from her bed, where she had been trying to hide, and took her with them. They also tied her dog, Casey, with a rope and took her as well.
As they were taken into Gaza, a combat helicopter fired on the tractor that was carrying Shani, along with Na’amit, Doron Katz and her two daughters, Efrat Katz z”l, and David and Sharon Cunio with Yuli, one of their daughters. The helicopter fire killed Efrat Katz z”l and wounded the rest of the hostages to varying degrees. Upon entering Gaza, the group was separated, with Shani being taken to the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, with Doron Katz and her two daughters.
What Happened Since
Shani was held hostage by Hamas along with other children and adults from Nir Oz. She helped them while in captivity and they were there for her in return.
She was released on the 55th day of the war, on the last day of the hostage deal.
After a long struggle to secure their release, Shani’s close friends, Arbel and Sasha, were freed in the January 2025 hostage deal.
Along with the entire Nir Oz community, Shani continued to fight to free Arbel’s boyfriend and Shani’s close friend, Ariel Cunio, as well as David Cunio and Eitan Horen, with whom Shani had been held in captivity, and all of the remaining hostages.
Now that all of the hostages have returned home, after two years, Shani is in the process of healing alongside her friends.
