🕯️ Forever in Our Hearts

The Heroes of Kerem Shalom

Fell Defending Their Home | October 7th, 2023

6
Heroes Fallen
8
Orphaned Children
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Eternal Memory
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They grew up together in Psagot. They studied together at yeshiva. They founded the core group at Kerem Shalom together. They went into battle together. And they fell together – as heroes.

Amichai Witzen and Yedidya Raziel were not just friends – they were brothers. At every stage of life they walked together, and in the greatest test of all they stood side by side and defended their families, their friends, and the entire kibbutz with their lives.

Israel Amichai Witzen z
Sgt. (Res.) Israel Amichai Witzen z"l
Age 33 Father of Five Psagot → Kerem Shalom

Israel Amichai Witzen z"l

Birth & Name Origin

Israel Amichai Witzen was born on the 21st of Nissan 5750 in the settlement of Psagot, to his parents – Rabbi Shlomo Yosef and Rachel.

At his circumcision ceremony held on Holocaust Remembrance Day, he was named "Israel Amichai" – Israel after his grandfather Israel Moshe, father of grandmother Ruth. The name Amichai ("My People Lives") was added as an expression of the nation's revival after the terrible Holocaust.

Family

Married to Talia and father to 5: Tzur David, Uri, Kerem, Ruth and Shachar. He left behind parents, seven siblings, a wife, and five children.

Education & Youth

He was educated at Talmud Torah in Ma'ale Michmas. Studied at the high school yeshiva in Dimona.

Afterward, he studied at the higher yeshiva in Alon Moreh, and in his fourth year transferred to Har HaMor Yeshiva.

During these years, a spiritual stature grew within him while maintaining all the fresh forces of life, brightening the faces of all around him, devoted to Torah and divine service.

Military Service

He enlisted for combat military service in Battalion 51 of the Golani Brigade and served as a squad commander. During his military service, he met Talia and they married.

Post-Military Studies

After military service, he returned for another three years of study at Har HaMor Yeshiva, during which he simultaneously worked in education at Netiv Meir and Horev yeshivas.

He deliberated between working in therapy or education, and ultimately chose to teach at a yeshiva.

Kerem Shalom

Amichai moved with his family to live in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom – a kibbutz that became socially mixed, combining religious and non-religious families side by side.

In Kerem Shalom, he was a partner in building a shared fabric of life.

Work in Education

He chose to teach at the agricultural high school yeshiva "Halutzei Dror". The previous Elul, he began educating his third cohort at the yeshiva.

Simchat Torah Night

On the night of Simchat Torah, Amichai went out to the hakafot (Torah dancing celebrations) in the synagogue and danced with devotion, love, and deep connection to the Torah.

"Make sure the children feel good and dance – today is Simchat Torah. Take out all the snacks from the kitchen for them."
From voice messages he sent to his wife during the fighting

Morning of October 7th

On the morning of Simchat Torah 5784, when the sirens were heard, he was mobilized from his home to the response team.

In their own "hakafot," they defended the community from the repeated attempts of the savages to breach the community walls, enter neighbors' homes, and commit atrocities.

With supreme heroism, he fought shoulder to shoulder alongside his friends, fierce battles with composure and daring. During the battles, he maintained faith and optimism, never stopping to think of his wife and children, reassuring them through voice messages.

With his extraordinary heroism, he saved many Kerem Shalom residents. He fell together with his friend Yedidya Raziel z"l.

"Sing for joy, O nations, for His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants,
render vengeance upon His adversaries, and atone for His land and His people."

May His Memory Be Blessed

✡
Yedidya Raziel z\
Sgt. (Res.) Moshe Yedidya Raziel z"l
Age 31 Father of Three Psagot → Kerem Shalom

Yedidya Raziel z"l

Family

Married to Shira and father to 3: Tzuri, Tair, and Hadar. Born and raised in Psagot, 16th of Tammuz 5752, the youngest of 6 siblings.

Education & Youth

Studied at school in Psagot and at Beit Kama High School. Was a member of the Bnei Akiva youth movement.

Volunteered during high school at 'Lev Binyamin' and 'Simcha L'Yeled' organizations.

Studied at Alon Moreh Higher Yeshiva, where he enlisted through the 'Hesder' track into Battalion 931 of the Nahal Brigade.

Military Service & Reserves

In reserves, he was one of the founders of the Evacuation Company of Battalion 9207 in the Jerusalem Brigade, where he commanded as squad sergeant.

As a social worker by profession, he incorporated 'YAHALOM' protocol training (civilian equivalent: 'MA'ASE' model) for primary psychological first aid into every training exercise, to prevent PTSD development in fighters.

Academic Studies

Studied for his bachelor's degree in Social Work at Ashkelon College, and was in the middle of his master's degree in Clinical Social Work with specialization in Couples and Family Therapy at Ariel University.

His dream was to become a therapist.

Kerem Shalom

After his marriage, he lived 3 years in Alon Moreh, and then in summer 2018 moved with his family to Kibbutz Kerem Shalom – a secular kibbutz that accepted religious families that year and became a mixed community.

From an ideal of shared living as well as settling the Land of Israel in the kibbutz closest to the Gaza border.

Hobbies & Personality

Yedidya loved playing chess, playing basketball (and if not available, soccer). Loved drawing and cycling.

Loved writing poems and Torah interpretations. He wrote a book of sermons on the Five Books of Moses based on Abarbanel's commentary, as well as a booklet of interpretations on Song of Songs – combining his writing talent with his love of Torah and learning.

Combined seemingly contradictory traits: sense of humor and playfulness with seriousness and persistence. Abilities and character of a sharp fighter, and professionally a sensitive and caring social worker. A deep conversationalist and listener who was fun to talk and discuss with, and also a man of truth who didn't compromise on his principles. Learned from every person and spoke with everyone at eye level. A loving and beloved family man.

"I'm okay, everyone's okay!"
He shouted to his wife Shira through the window after eliminating terrorists near their home

Morning of October 7th

Yedidya was mobilized as a member of the kibbutz's response team to defend the kibbutz from the infiltrating terrorists, while leaving his wife and children locked in the safe room at home – along with his parents and sister who had come to visit for the holiday.

Around 10:00 AM, a call came from a family in the kibbutz about terrorists infiltrating their home. In the battle against the terrorists in the house, Yedidya and his friend Amichai Witzen z"l were killed. Another response team member was seriously wounded in this battle, and the father of the family whose home was breached was critically injured.

After hours of unimaginable heroic battles – with the response team and a handful of Nahal reconnaissance soldiers alone against dozens of terrorists – the fighters succeeded in stopping the infiltration and thereby saving the lives of all kibbutz residents from a massacre.

Yedidya fought with heroism and fell defending his home

May His Memory Be Blessed

Forever in Our Hearts

IDF Soldiers Who Fell Defending Kerem Shalom

Alongside the response team heroes, brave IDF soldiers who came to defend the kibbutz and the outpost also fell in the battle for Kerem Shalom. Their memory lives in our hearts.

Captain
Age 23 Nahal Reconnaissance Sharigim

Captain Tomer Shoham z"l

Platoon Commander in Palhan Nahal Reconnaissance | Promoted posthumously

Tomer Shoham and his team manned a forward position at the "Lulim" outpost near Kibbutz Kerem Shalom. With the onset of the surprise attack, Tomer quickly assessed the situation and acted calmly. When a warning was received about terrorist infiltration, he led his team toward them.

Tomer and a gunner climbed a small hill to gain a better vantage point, and from there eliminated the first terrorist squad. Shortly after, they identified dozens more terrorists advancing toward the kibbutz.

The ammunition crate he brought to the outpost in advance enabled the fighters to hold out for many hours and stop the terrorists from entering the outpost and kibbutz. His actions saved many lives.

Left behind parents, a brother, and a sister

Sergeant
Age 21 Palhan Nahal Songwriter

Sergeant Yaron Ori Shay z"l

Fighter in Sabotage and Engineering Company Nahal Reconnaissance | Son of former Minister Yizhar Shay

Yaron fought together with two other fighters against dozens of terrorists who attempted to breach Kibbutz Kerem Shalom. The fierce battle they conducted delayed the terrorists and enabled forces in the kibbutz and outpost to organize.

Before he fell, Yaron managed to warn his family and his uncle from the response team of Kibbutz Or HaNer about the terrorist infiltration - an action that saved additional lives.

A song Yaron wrote was found on his phone after his death and was produced in his memory. His family established the memorial initiative "Next October" combining innovation and startup initiatives.

Devoted fan of Hapoel Tel Aviv

Sergeant
Age 20 Border Guard - Battalion 414 Observer Protection

Sergeant Or Mizrachi z"l

Fighter in Battalion 414 Border Defense Corps | Responsible for observer protection

Or served at Kerem Shalom outpost and was responsible for protecting the observers at the base and nearby kibbutz. On the morning of October 7th, Or was alone at the Lulim outpost when the attack began.

When the outpost was attacked by dozens of armed terrorists, Or fought with extraordinary determination. Alone against dozens, he succeeded in eliminating three terrorists before being shot and killed in battle.

His brave fighting alone against dozens of terrorists delayed their advance to the kibbutz and saved observers and many civilians. His heroism will never be forgotten.

Sergeant
Age 20 Kfir Brigade Immigrant from France

Sergeant Natan Chai Liar z"l

Fighter in Duchifat Battalion (94) of Kfir Brigade | Immigrated from France in 2016

Natan was born in France and immigrated to Israel with his family in 2016. He lived in Netanya and enlisted in Kfir Brigade, where he served in Duchifat Battalion.

On the day of battle, Natan fought courageously against the terrorists who breached Kerem Shalom and saved many civilians. He remained outside the protected space to guard civilians, and was killed by mortar fire at approximately 14:10.

A new immigrant who chose to defend the State of Israel. Natan sacrificed his life to protect civilians, refusing to hide in a protected location and remaining outside to guard them.

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"The IDF soldiers who fought in the kibbutz acted with heroism and self-sacrifice. Their sacrifice saved lives and prevented a greater disaster."

May their memory be blessed | May their souls be bound in the bond of life

"These are good people who stood against evil. The heroism of Amichai and Yedidya, who grew up together and fell together, saved the kibbutz."

— Residents of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom
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May their memory be blessed. Their heroism will live forever.

Continue Their Path

The best way to remember Amichai and Yedidya is to continue what they believed in – strengthening Kerem Shalom, building the community, and guarding our home.

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