Here Lived
This is our home. Ziv Shalev (37), Barak Morag (39), Gaya Morag Shalev (9), and Itamar Morag Shalev (6). We lived in this house for eight years. We moved in a week before our Gaya was born. I am Ziv, born and raised on the kibbutz, and Barak was a personal import from Be’er Sheva. We lived in this house joyfully and modestly, and we knew that we had a good life. It was paradise for a family, living next to Grandma and Grandpa, apart from rounds of fighting, during which we would leave the kibbutz quickly and return when things calmed down.
October 7th
On the morning of October 7, we were all at home. At the first siren, we entered the safe room, which was the children’s room. We were in touch with our family and friends through WhatsApp groups and tried urgently to call for help all day long.
At 10:07 a.m., terrorists entered our home for the first time. They ransacked the house and tried to break into the safe room. Luckily, we had an internal bolt, which was installed several years earlier, so they couldn’t break in. Then they tried to threaten us in excellent Hebrew and English, “Open the door. If you open it, we won’t kill you, but if you won’t, we’ll blow up the door.” We debated, but decided not to respond.
After they discussed things between themselves, they left. Twenty minutes later, they returned. They walked around the house, and then we heard the sound of liquid being poured. They set the house on fire. The safe room filled with smoke very quickly. We lay on the floor and covered our faces with cloth. We peed on a blanket and placed it against the doorsill to prevent smoke from entering. Shortly after, the children began not to feel well. They threw up several times and then started to fall asleep. At that point, with the help of my brother, we consulted with Asaf Ha-Rofeh Hospital and were instructed to get oxygen urgently. We didn’t know what to do. Should we open a window or stay safer in the closed safe room and thus endanger the children’s condition. We decided to open the window slightly. Barak sacrificed himself and stood guard at the window. We were like that for three hours. Just before 2:00 p.m., Barak heard steps and he slammed the window shut. After a frightening scuffle at the window, we realized that the men outside were soldiers with members of the emergency squad. They told us to close the window and wait. An hour later, another force arrived, and they rescued us through the window. Gaya was in bad shape. She vomited and couldn’t stand on her feet. She was checked by a paramedic who was part of the force. Two minutes later, on the path, we were evacuated with another family. We were barefoot, wearing only pajamas.
What Happened Since
That Saturday, we lost my father, David Shalev z”l, and my brother, Tal Shalev z”l, neighbors, good friends, members of the community, a home, and a full life that we lived in the most beautiful place on earth.
We now live in Karme Gat with the community and with Ziv’s mother, who survived because she was abroad at the time.
We remember in our hearts and souls all those who are gone!
