Idan Herman, 26: Engineering student with a passion for surfing

Idan Herman, 26, from Kibbutz Palmachim, was murdered by Hamas terrorists while fleeing the Supernova music festival on October 7.

He attended the rave with his girlfriend, Eden Naftali, who was also murdered that day. According to Eden’s mother, the pair sought safety in a roadside bomb shelter near Kibbutz Be’eri.

Idan told her that when the situation calmed down, he was planning on driving to his aunt in Kibbutz Be’eri, but when she told him that the kibbutz was overrun by terrorists, they decided to stay inside the shelter. There, both Eden and Idan were murdered along with many others when the Hamas terrorists threw grenades and opened fire on those huddled inside.

Idan was buried in Palmachim on October 12. He is survived by his parents, Avri and Revital and his younger sisters Nofar and Noa.

He was the nephew of Nira Herman Sharabi, whose husband, Yossi, was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 and was killed in Hamas captivity. Yossi’s brother, Eli Sharabi, is believed to still be held captive, and Eli’s wife and daughters, Lianne, Noiya and Yahel, were all murdered.

After graduating from the Brenner school in Kibbutz Givat Brenner, Idan served in the IDF as a combat soldier. Later, he volunteered as a mentor at the Front Life organization, which helps former combat soldiers transition into civilian life.

His friend and fellow volunteer, Iar Danon, memorialized him on the organization’s website, saying that he was a person who was “always with a massive smile, captivating blue eyes, and endless charisma.”

Idan loved the sea, surfing and other water sports, and was about to begin his second year studying electrical engineering at the Afeka College in Tel Aviv.

His friends and family wrote on Facebook that he had been a curious child with an “incredible” sense of humor.

“He had a wonderful connection between external beauty that could not be ignored and internal beauty that made everyone who knew him just want to be around him,” they wrote, adding that he loved to travel both in Israel and abroad.

They went on to write that “Idan was the one who connected friends from all his circles. He maintained good and close relationships with everyone, initiated get-togethers, and always made sure to be in communication with everyone.”

Belle Asher, a friend of Idan’s from school, wrote on Instagram that he was “the most special guy, the one who everyone liked, the one who taught me to persevere, the one who shouted at me from the window that he loved me, the one who knew how to be a real friend.”

His former co-worker, Matan Or Hen, wrote that they first clicked when he talked about surfing. “Your eyes lit up and I couldn’t wait to work with you. I had only taken up surfing and you wanted to teach me. Thank you for being there for me and for all the good times we’ve had. You’ll always remain in my heart.”

Idan’s aunt, Gali Herman Goshen, eulogized him on Facebook as a “handsome guy, a charming boy, smart, with an appetite for life, an angel with values, who was always surrounded by countless friends.”

Idan was a caring son and a loving brother to his two younger sisters, a connection “built on humor and lots of intelligence, a passion for life, deep love and care for each other,” Gali wrote.

“The world won’t return to what it once was, because without you it won’t be the same,” she added. “You will always be in our hearts, our memories, our thoughts and our longings. Try to send us a sign every once in awhile — a wink, a smile or a butterfly, pure and white from the foam of the sea, that we can touch and send back to you.”

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