Idan Dor, 25: Born leader cared for his sibling with special needs

Idan Dor, 25, from Givat Ze’ev, was murdered by Hamas terrorists while trying to flee the Supernova music festival on October 7.

Idan attended the rave with his childhood friend, Ram Shalom. When the Hamas attack began, Idan spoke to his sister, and told her that he was trying to escape, and was hiding with Ram from the terrorists, before the connection was cut.

“For eight days, we did not know what had happened to him, but I, with every fiber of my being, believed he was still alive,” his sister, Daniela told Ynet. The family heard from several reports that Idan was killed when he jumped on a terrorist who entered a roadside bomb shelter where he had sought safety. Both Idan and Ram were slain in the onslaught.

Idan was buried on October 15 in Jerusalem. Months later, his family was informed that additional remains of his had been identified, and they were added to his grave.

Idan is survived by his parents, Ophir and Michal, as well as his three siblings, Jordan, Daniela and Amit.

Idan studied at Denmark High School in Jerusalem, and played soccer for Hapoel Katamon, in the position of center midfielder, from 2013 to 2016. His coach described Idan as a “good and pure boy, humble but a fighter; he was incredibly competitive.” During his mandatory IDF service, he served in the Nahal Brigade as a combat soldier and was discharged early due to a leg injury. After a long period of traveling around the world, he returned to Israel and began working at the airport.

His father, Ophir, a contractor and artist, turned his grief into artwork, including painting with his own blood after he cut open his hand when hearing of his son’s death: “Before the tragedy, it was my hobby, after the tragedy, it became my escape,” he told a local news site. “Idan loved my work, he would observe things in his own silence.”

Idan, he said, “touched everyone. He would take care of his older brother, who had special needs; he was extremely sensitive to those around him. He was a modest boy, a leader from birth, but without every raising his voice, just by using his eyes.”

His sister, Daniela, told a local news site that “in his short life, Idan did not commit to long-term plans. It’s like he knew that his time on earth would be short; he lived a vibrant life. He loved to have fun and dance with his friends. He lived his life to the fullest.”

Her brother, she said, “was a sensitive boy, he knew how to weather tough situations… he had a unique life wisdom that he was born with, he loved people and pursued peace.”

Idan “was a wonderful son to his parents, completely fulfilled the commandment of ‘honor your parents.’ He was an incredible brother to his older brother, Yarden, who had special needs, and it was one of Idan’s life missions to take care of Yarden.”

Her brother, Daniela added, “was a modest and kind person, who loved freely, respected every person… He was an honest and decent person, and the commandment to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ described him better than anything.”

Read more Those We Have Lost stories here.