Color Me Orange

For one day, it seems, the world took notice. What did it take? The bodies of a beautiful young mom and her two orange haired babies.

Yesterday, all of Israel mourned together. It seemed the entire nation stood still. The funeral procession made its way from Rishon l’Tsiyon to the cemetery at Nir Oz carrying the bodies of the Bibas family. The streets were clogged the entire way with people waving Israeli flags and orange flags, banners and orange balloons. As the hearse passed, the crowd would release their balloons, sending them floating overhead in a never ending sea of orange. It was one of the largest funerals in Israel, equal to that of the great rabbis.

Shiri and her husband, Yarden, were awakened early morning of 7 October, 2023, as civilian terrorists from Gaza were breaking into their house. They debated whether to surrender of fight. At Shiri’s insistence, Yarden went into the living room to fight them off, but he was greatly outnumbered and out armed. They took the family, Shiri, Ariel, who had just turned 4, and baby Kfir, only 9 months. I watched that day, as the Gazans had uploaded all the footage in real time and it was playing out on the Arabic news stations. Everyone who remembers ears the video clip, knows the look of abject fear in Shiri’s eyes as she clutches her precious children and were led away. Their dog, Tonto, was taken as well, and the next day was shot, also on video.

We found out this week that Shiri and the children had been murdered early on, while Yarden spent 503 days in captivity. His survival was partially attributed to the fact that he would be reunited with his family. He was holding on to the thread they would be alive, despite having watched Hamas propaganda videos declaring them dead by Israeli fire. Unfortunately the grand reunification was not to be and their coffins were returned two weeks later.

The funeral was absolutely heartbreaking, as one would expect. Yarden started out with words he had learned in Spanish, because Shiri’s family (both her parents were also murdered on the kibbutz that day) were from Argentina…

“Mi Amor. I remember the first time I said ‘mi amor’ to you. It was at the very beginning of our relationship. You told me only to call you that if I was certain “I loved you.” Shiri, I’ll confess to you now that I already loved you back when I said ‘mi amor.’

Shiri, I love you and will always love you! Shiri you are everything to me! You are the best wife and mother there could be. Shiri, you are my best friend. Mishmish (apricot), who will help me make decisions now? How am I supposed to make decisions without you? Do you remember our last decision together? In the safe room, I asked you if we should fight or surrender. You said fight so I fought. Shiri, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you all.

I think about everything we went through together – there are so many beautiful memories. I remember Ariel and Kfir’s births. I remember the days we would sit at home or in a café, just the two of us, talking for hours about everything under the sun. It was wonderful. I miss those times deeply. Your presence is profoundly missed.

I want to tell you everything that is happening in the world and here in Israel. Shiri, everyone knows and loves us – you can’t imagine how surreal all this madness is. Shiri, people tell me they’ll always be by my side, but they’re not you. So please stay close to me and don’t go far! Shiri, this is the closest I’ve been to you since October 7th, and I can’t kiss or hug you, and it’s breaking me!

Shiri, please watch one me. Protect me from bad decisions. Shields me from harmful things and protect me from myself. Guard me so I don’t sink into darkness. Mishmish, I love you!

Chooki, Ariel. You made me a father. You transformed us into a family. You taught me what truly matters in life and about responsibility. The day you were born I matured instantly because of you. You taught me so much about myself, and I want to thank you. So thank you, my beloved.

Ariel, I hope you’re not angry with me for failing to protect you properly and for not being there for you. I hope you know I thought about you every day, every minute. I hope you’re enjoying Paradise. I’m sure you’re making all the angels laugh with your silly jokes and impressions. I hope there are plenty of butterflies for you to watch, just like you did during our picnics.

Chooki, be careful when you climb down from your cloud not to step on Toni (Yarden’s brother, who was also massacred). Teach Kfir all your impressions and make everyone laugh up there. Ariel, I love you ‘the most in the world, always in the world,’ just as you used to tell us.

Poopik, Kfir, I didn’t think our family could be more perfect, and then you came along and made it even more perfect. I remember your birth. I remember during the delivery when the midwife suddenly stopped everything – we were frightened and thought something was wrong – but it was just to tell us we had another redhead. Mom and I laughed and rejoiced. You brought more light and happiness to our little home. You came with your sweet, captivating laugh and smile, and I was instantly hooked. It was impossible not to nibble on you all the time.

Kfir, I’m sorry I didn’t protect you better, but I need you to know that I love you deeply and miss you terribly! I miss nibbling on you and hearing your peals of laughter. I miss our morning games when mom would ask me to watch you before I went to work. I cherished those little moments so much and I miss them now more than ever! Kfir, I love you the most in the world, always in the world!I

Ave so many more things to tell you, but I’ll save them for when we’re alone…

In the middle of the night last night, without ceremony or fanfare, Hamas handed over the bodies of four more hostages who had been murdered in captivity. This concludes Phase 1 of the 3 phase agreement. Even at 2 am, Israelis came out en masse with flags to form a sort of honor guard. Final forensic examination proved that the bodies were those of Ohad Yahalomi, Shlomo Manzur, Tsachi Idan and Yitzhak Elgarat, may their memories be a blessing.

Ohad Yahalomi, 49, was kidnapped from Kinbutz Nir Oz as he attempted to protect his family. He engaged in a gun battle with the terrorists and was shot in the leg. Despite his injury, Ohad urged his wife, Batsheva, and their three children to escape while he stayed behind. While most of his family managed to get away after a harrowing ordeal, he was taken captive into Gaza. He left behind his wife and three children, one of whom, Eitan, was also kidnapped into Gaza. Eitan was released in November, 2023.

Shlomo Manzur, 85, was born in Baghdad, Iraq. He survived the Farhud (MidEast Holocaust in the late 1940s) and emigrated to Israel as a child. Shlomo was a kind and generous man, one of the founders of Kibbutz Kissufim., a peaceful agricultural kibbutz in the Gaza border. He left behind his wife, Mazal, who managed to escape, and 12 grandchildren. His life began and ended in terror against the Jewish people.

Yitzhak Elgarat, 68, was a dual Danish-Israeli national, who lived with his family on Kibbutz Nir Oz. He was the kibbutz gardener and handyman. ‘Itzik’ was loved by everyone at the kibbutz as he had a way of bringing people of all ages together and creating social and community events. He was shot in the hand by terrorists while in the safe room of his house. In a final call to us brother, he said, “Danny. This is the end.” They dragged him away where his phone was later traced to Gaza. He was killed by Hamas. He has a brother in Israel and two children living in Denmark.

Tsachi Idan. Oh Tsachi!! My poor, dear Tsachi! What can I say? I watched horrorstruck that fateful morning. Your family was one of the first live feeds I saw. The terrorists had GoPros on their headbands and filmed everything in real time as they broke into the house.

https://youtu.be/Taab_3a3124?si=eCMMPIDVJoAn7LUk

In January, 2024, a video showed him alive but in poor health. Tsachi, now you’ve returned to your broken family. It’s all so beyond words-

On the positive note, I just had another uplifting Israeli experience just a few minutes ago. Across the street from us is a little brick path that leads tot eh neighborhood gan, the kindergarten. Parents park on the street next to our house when they are dropping and picking up their little kids. I had to give something to our neighbor, and walking back home, there was a car with an open door. Outside the car, with the door open stood four absolutely adorable little four year old girls, their hair in buns and pony tails, cute sweatshirts and backpacks. They were just ssoooo cute! I commented to the father how cute they all were milling about and he said. “Children. They are our life and our future. Our gold. We love them.” Just how refreshing is that? Not a hint of anything untoward. Just pure love. I’ve never experienced this anywhere else-