Here Lived
My name is Tova Zehavi. I am 76 years old, single, with no children.
I grew up at Kibbutz Ein Hashofet, a kibbutz that adopted Nir Oz as a sister community, where I was part of a youth group.
In 1966, we visited Nir Oz for a few days and fell in love with the people, the landscape, the atmosphere, and the warm welcome we received. We decided to move there.
In 1968, following our military service, we joined the “Mevar” founding core to establish the “Meran” group and made Nir Oz our home.
I worked as a teacher for about eight years, and then in bookkeeping until I retired.
I lived a wonderful, full life on the kibbutz. I loved my home, the surroundings, the members, and the way of life. I used to joke that I was living in a retirement village!
October 7th
On October 7, I was alone in the safe room. From 6:30 a.m., I heard gunshots and screaming in Arabic.
Terrorists entered my home twice. The first time, I heard them through the safe-room door, talking, pulling cabinet doors off their hinges, moving, breaking, and crashing things. The second time, two terrorists came into the safe room itself. One of them apparently wanted to check how many people were inside. The other stayed, and hit me hard across the head and face with a crowbar. I screamed: “Stop!”
I don’t remember how long it lasted, and I don’t remember feeling afraid. I lost all sense of time.
At around 4:00 p.m., soldiers arrived to evacuate us and take us to the operations room.
That evening, I was taken to Soroka Hospital for medical treatment.
What Happened Since
Today I live in Karme Gat, waiting to go home to my kibbutz.
