This is the life story and the battle of Ori Arad, our youngest brother and beloved one, who was killed at the cursed Nova Festival on Simchat Torah (Jewish Holiday), October 7th.

Ori completed his mission in this world not before gathering Esther and Shir at the Mefalsim junction, amidst the wounded and the dead scattered on the road, and the damaged, bullet-riddled cars blocking the path. Two young girls trapped in the Hamas inferno.

In a phone call minutes before his death, Ori informed his father that he had made the decision to break through the blockade of terror vehicles manned by Hamas murderers, after coming to the conclusion that anyone left on the road would certainly be killed.

Immediately after the call and on his way to the car, the girls approached him and asked for his help to escape the gunfire coming from all directions. Ori smiled at them, handed them the water bottle he had in his hand, and promised them he would get them out of the hell they were in.

Ori seated them in the back, asked them to lie as low as possible, and sped toward the terrorists. The car was shot at, Ori hit two terrorists, was shot, wounded, and collided head-on with another terrorist truck blocking the road, and the car fell into a ditch. A demonic terrorist approached the car, shot him, and made sure to kill him while sparing Esther and Shir, who were wounded and pretended to be dead.

Our Ori, a beacon of light, a smile, and love, managed in his short life to make and lead many friends, play basketball for “Hapoel Holon” (basketball team), enlist and serve in an elite intelligence unit, take an amazing trip to the East, achieve an impressive score on the psychometric test, and the day after his death, he was supposed to begin his studies in psychology and economics at Tel Aviv University.

Our Ori, a child full of smiles, you left us scarred and bleeding. Thank you for giving us the privilege of being in your presence for almost 23 years, and we will complete the rest with tears, longing, and pride.

You chose not to surrender, you fought for freedom, you sought contact, and you did not give up.

We saw your picture lying dead in the car, with your arms outstretched wide, as a sign to us, to be proud of you for taking your fate into your own hands and for choosing death over captivity.

Ori, we miss you so much.