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Ilay Nachman (23) z”l
An incoming BA student in Entrepreneurship and Business Administration at Reichman University, was murdered on October 7th, 2023, at the Nova Music Festival during the Swords of Iron War. A Shin Bet agent, former paratrooper, and basketball player for Hof HaSharon, Ilay attended the festival with friends when rockets began to fall. As they sought shelter, a terrorist approached their hiding place. In an act of extraordinary bravery, Ilay and his friend Addir Masika z”l charged at the attacker with their bare hands, pushing him out of the shelter. They were shot and killed on the spot, but their actions saved three friends. Ilay was just days away from his 24th birthday.
Ilay’s mother, Yifat, described him as “a person of light and action, always smiling, with amazing interpersonal skills—everyone wanted to be his friend.” He briefly worked at the MyHeritage lab, where colleagues recalled his deep kindness, wisdom, and lasting impact despite his short time there. He is survived by his grandfather, parents Yifat and Eyal, his brother Ravid, and his partner, Arbel.
