For our family, the eight-day-long religious festival of Hanukah and its emphasis on candles, joy and the Jewish people triumphing over evil is going to have a very different resonance this year. Exactly a year ago, moments after the first Hanukah candle was lit amid the happy chaos of playful children and dinner on the table, a small knock on the door at the home of our son-in-law's family here in Jerusalem heralded changes of the absolutely most nightmarish kind.
A team of solemn IDF soldiers stood there. With a war raging in Gaza for two months, they brought with them the worst news a family ever hears.
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Naftali Yonah Gordon married our daughter Pesi in 2019. Everyone who knew them understood that theirs was a love match of the most beautiful kind. As Pesi's parents, we adored the young man she brought into our family's life, and when the children were born, two sweet and lovely girls who today are four and two, the blessings in their lives and in ours felt untouchable.
Today according to the secular, solar calendar, December 24, 2024, happens to be the day Naftali and those who loved him would have celebrated his 34th birthday.
The tribute below is written by Naftali's grieving mother, Beaty, for a booklet that is going to be distributed to friends and family who will attend the memorial events this week. They mark a year since he fell in a fierce battle with the forces of Hamas in Gaza exactly a year ago on December 7, 2023. [See 06-Feb-24: Obituary: Naftali Yonah Gordon, our adored son-in-law]
(The Jewish calendar is based on lunar months so that the anniversary marks a year since the eve of last year's Hanukah.)
Naftali Yonah Gordon was born on December 24, 1990 (the seventh day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, 5751) in Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City. With his Hebrew birthday coinciding with the "13th" Chanukah light, he was affectionately known as our family's Chanukah present.
When he was just 18 months old, we made aliyah to Israel, first settling in Ramot for five years before moving to the community of Hashmona’im.
Naftali began his education at the local MAMA”D elementary school and later attended Yeshivat Ner Tamid for high school.
Naftali is terribly missed.During this time, he demonstrated his caring and generous nature through volunteer work. At the therapeutic horseback riding ranch in Kfar Ruth, he worked with children with special needs and helped train horses.
He also dedicated his time as a counselor at Keren Or, an institute for blind and multi-disabled children, where his devotion and compassion were deeply felt.
Naftali served in the Israel Defense Forces as a gunner in the Armored Corps. Afterwards he pursued his lifelong dream of becoming a physical therapist. He studied at Ariel University, driven by his personal ideology of "I Can Do It” which inspired him to overcome the challenges of dyslexia and achieve his goals.
Naftali's innate kindness and sensitivity blossomed as he matured, shaping him into a person who gave selflessly and found joy in helping others. His patients, both in his work with the Clalit Health Services and in the army, admired his dedication and his ability to inspire confidence and hope, enabling them to overcome their challenges.
In 2019, Naftali married Pesi Roth, bringing immense joy to his family. Together, they built a loving home, raising two daughters, Libi (now 4) and Gefen (now 2). Family was central to Naftali's life and he structured his schedule to spend meaningful time with his daughters — taking them to kindergarten, enjoying afternoons in the park, cherishing bedtime routines. Their home was filled with the warmth and laughter that characterized Naftali's spirit.
A talented cook and baker, Naftali delighted in sharing his culinary creations and recipes with loved ones. He also took pride in bringing his daughters to shul every Shabbat, instilling in them a deep love for Judaism and its traditions.
His devotion to his wife, children, parents, and siblings was unwavering, and his presence enriched the lives of all who knew him.
On December 7, 2023, Naftali heroically gave his life defending his country. During a mission in Sejaiya, his tank was hit by a rocket, triggering an explosion that claimed the lives of both Naftali and his tank commander, Omri Roth. His courage, dedication, and love for his country will forever be remembered.
May Naftali’s memory be a blessing, and may the love and joy he shared continue to inspire and comfort those who were privileged to know him.
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