Ofra Keidar, who was murdered during the October 7 massacre at Kibbutz Be’eri, was laid to rest on Thursday.
Keidar, 70 years old at the time of her death, was a mother of three and the wife of Shmuel “Sami” Keidar, who was also murdered.
“Mom, a giant hole has been open in us since October 7,” her son Elad eulogized her.
“You were a full partner in raising the [grandchildren], from bathing them to taking them to parties and babysitting to spending time with them in the petting zoo. Your personality is felt and seen in all [of them].”
Elad talked about the huge uncertainty that their family felt while waiting for news about what had happened to his mother and how searching for every detail about what had happened was part of his personal closure.
“I am full of hope that all the hostage families will be able to find closure,” he said. “Mom, thank you for what you taught me for all the years you were with us. You are with all the children. Thank you for who you were for us.
“I’m sorry, mom. I’m sorry I didn’t come to you when we talked [on October 7, 2023], and that I couldn’t help you. I will always love you.”
Keidar’s daughter, Yael, also spoke at the funeral.
“Mom, I want to tell you that I was saved, and I am alive,” she said, adding that she is being taken care of by good people.
“We weren’t just mother and daughter; we were friends,” she said.
Keidar’s sister, Chana, speaking at the funeral, addressed her slain sister Ofra and said if she could have seen how well-known she had become after she was taken, she “would have died again.”
Chana told Ofra her family is finding the strength to continue on and to grow and said the family is like Ofra and Sami.
“It’s good you came home to Be’eri,” she said. “Please let everyone come home now,” she added.
Herzog offers condolences at funeral
President Isaac Herzog, speaking at the funeral, said Keidar has returned to Be’eri “after what seems like an agonizing eternity.”
“From the small amount I have heard of you, I think you would not have been happy about the number of words [spoken at the funeral],” he said. “I imagine you would have said, ‘Don’t make a big deal.’”
“We are making a big deal because of our holy obligation not to forget our brothers tortured in Gaza,” Herzog said. “We have an obligation to bring them all home, living and dead,” he said.
There would be no recovery without the hostages being brought back, he said, adding that this is a key moment after Israel’s achievements during Operation Rising Lion.
Herzog also apologized in the name of the State of Israel for the failure to defend the residents of Be’eri.
Keidar had worked in the kibbutz’s dairy industry for 30 years, was a devoted mother who loved animals and farming, and was remarkably strong, Kibbutz Be’eri said.
She was also not in the habit of asking for help, and her work was characterized by quiet, effectiveness, diligence, and attention to detail, it said.
Ofra loved her routine –work, sport, music, gardening, spending time at home and with her family, it added.
She was an excellent athlete when she was younger and took part in class plays, Kibbutz Be’eri said.