The victims of the attack, my husband, Nachman Shmuel Mordoff, 16 years old from Ahya, and Ofer Fairman, 63 years old from Meli, were laid to rest before noon (Wednesday). Elisha Antman and Harel Massoud, who were also murdered in the attack, were laid to rest last night.
Nachman Shmuel Mordoff, 14, was laid to rest in the Shiloh cemetery. He left behind his parents and seven brothers and sisters. His family paid tribute to him: “A smiling boy, energetic and loved by all his friends. He was always involved in the sacred, helping others, smiling and strengthening the weak, he was honest, truthful and respected his parents. See the heart of a person and not the outside and thus connect with another from a place of Tom. His speech was mainly with the help of the charming smile. Loved the person and the land. His hands were rough from manual labor in the land he loved so much. He made the connection to the earth and his creator through the animals he loved, and with whom he loved to walk among the paths of this land when he shepherded the sheep and took care of them just as he had learned from his ancestors. Pioneering and love of the land, man and all creation in the world, were the sources of energy that filled him. The quiet voice and the smile were the image of his soul.”
video-credit">Video: The funeral of Nachman Shmuel Mordoff, who was murdered in the attack on my husband, today. Photo: TPS
Nachman’s father, Haim, said at the funeral: “Nachman is our beloved. We love you and we will never stop loving you. Thank you for being with you for almost 16 years. It’s hard and painful for us, but we don’t ask questions.”
Rabbi Hanania Polak, rabbi of the Ahiya settlement, eulogized: “Nahman, you came in fire and water, you were killed for His holy name and slaughtered for the sanctification of His name. You are close to God that you loved so much and were connected to Him. We are here crying with your family and all the people of Israel. We are crying for the desecration of God’s name. With the powers and illumination of the face of truth, depth and God’s work of valor and strength. You loved the land and you were connected to this land and all of you are going to be wrapped in it.”
video-credit">Video: The funeral of Nachman Shmuel Mordoff, who was murdered in the attack on my husband, today. Photo: TPS
The spokesperson of the Ahia settlement said: “The Ahia community is pained and shares in the deep sorrow of the dear Mordoff family for the murder of their son Nachman Shmuel the 14th in the murderous attack near Ali. At this difficult time, we expect and demand the government to take responsibility for our security and act to defeat the enemy who seeks to harm us day by day, hour by hour.
The leadership of the Yishuv and the professional teams of the Benjamin Council accompany the family all the time.”
Ofer Fairman, 63 years old, was laid to rest in my husband’s cemetery. Minister Nir Barkat said at the funeral that “we will act with actions and not with words, so that everyone knows who owns the house of this country.” Moshe Azoulai, Fairman’s friend and also a resident of Ali, said earlier on the IDF airwaves that Ofer was “a man above and beyond, full of light and goodness. Loved to help and was very involved in our company. It’s unimaginable.”
Last night, the other two victims of the attack at the Ali gas station were laid to rest – Elisha Antman, 18 years old, and Harel Masoud, 21 years old, from Mid Binyamin. Elisha’s funeral was closed to the media. Before the funeral began, Antman’s friend, Yedidia Grossman, published a short obituary that went viral: “We were sitting in Hummus, where you worked, where you were murdered. I was after a busy day, you after a shift. We talked, maybe an hour, we talked about life. You were a good friend, caring, thorough, the kind that what he does – he does the best there is. I love you Elisha, I didn’t think I would write these words, but it happened.” The Bnei Akiva Baali Yeshiva where Antman studied published a statement saying: “With great sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved student Elisha Antman the 14th who was murdered in today’s attack. Elisha 12th grade student 1. We hug the family.”
The head of the Regional Council Binyamin Israel Gantz paid tribute to Elisha: “Elisha, I saw you today for the first time. On your face was a smile and a special glow of the good son of the Land of Israel. Your face told us to continue, to act, to grow despite the immense pain. In the meeting with your parents in the inferno, we saw your deep roots, roots of faith and strength and they are the source of our strength. The IDF and the heads of the state need to gather strength and do their part in a crushing blow against an enemy that has raised in you and us hand We will do our part in the way of settlement in your name Elisha.”
Harel Masoud, 21 years old, was laid to rest at the Foundation Cemetery of the Nahal Shurk Regional Council. Yael, his mother, paid tribute to him and said: “Our beautiful Haralush. I can’t digest that you are not here with us. How can we talk about you in the past tense? You have only just been released from the army, from the most rigid framework, and you have only just blossomed. Now that you have finally started to live, fulfill your dream and settle the land you loved – now she is taking you to the depths of her land.”
The post “The quiet voice and the smile were the image of his soul”: The victims of the attack on my husband were laid to rest appeared first on Makor Rishon.
