‘A huge bleeding wound’: Nir Yitzhak members gather to mark 2 years since Oct. 7 massacre

By Sue Surkes

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6 October 2025, 3:18 pm

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Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter

Members of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak hold a memorial ceremony on October 6, 2025, marking two years since Hamas's October 7 attack that ravaged the community. (Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak)

Members of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak light memorial candles, screen videos of the fallen, and share memories at a ceremony marking two years since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on the Gaza border area.

Singer Dana Berger performs, with one of the songs dedicated to the widow of Tal Haimi, murdered on October 7. His body is believed held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, along with that of Lior Rudaeff.

Zamir Haimi, Tal Haim’s uncle, said the entire Nir Yitzhak family missed the eight kibbutz members who were slaughtered on October 7, 2023.

“The memories remain. The longing remains,” he says. “A huge, bleeding wound remains in the heart and soul. A huge wound that will never heal.”

Over 80% of kibbutz residents have returned to Nir Yitzhak and seven new families have applied to join.