Those we have lost

Michael Murzakhanov, 69: Prison doctor who spread ‘positive energy’

Murdered by Hamas terrorists on the way from Netivot to Ashkelon on October 7

Dr. Michael Murzakhanov (Courtesy)
Dr. Michael Murzakhanov (Courtesy)

Michael Murzakhanov, 69, from Netivot, was murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Shaar Hanegev Junction on October 7.

Michael, a doctor, left the house early that morning to head to his job at the Shikma prison in Ashkelon. Despite his wife’s pleas to stay home after the early morning rocket fire, Michael headed out at 7 a.m., and his family never saw or heard from him again.

After searching, his family found his car on the side of the road near the Shaar Hanegev Junction with bullet holes and pools of blood, but no sign of Michael. Only 10 days later, were they finally informed that his body had been found and identified. His son said that officials told them it had been difficult to identify him because he had been shot in the face.

Michael was buried in Beersheba. He is survived by his wife, Nina, their three children, Stanislav, Sergey and Wasily, and seven grandchildren.

Born in Mozdok, in the former Soviet Union, Michael grew up with his twin brother, Edward, and siblings Alexei, Rachel and Dina, according to a state eulogy. Already at age 15, he began his pre-med studies in Chechnya, where he later worked as a paramedic. At 18 he was enlisted in the Soviet Army and served in a hospital in Tbilisi. Upon completion of his army service, he began medical studies at the University of St. Petersburg, where he met he met his wife, Nina.

The couple wed in 1979 and had three sons as Michael began his medical career. They moved to Crimea, but later decided to make aliya to Israel. The boys immigrated in the early 2000s under the aegis of the Jewish Agency, and Michael and Nina followed in 2003, according to a eulogy from the Israeli Medical Association.

The family’s adjustment to Israel was a little rocky, in particular learning a new language, but Michael managed to transfer his doctor’s license and worked in a number of jobs before settling into work with the prison system.

“Dr. Murzakhanov was a man full of joy for life, charismatic, intellectual, physically and spiritually strong,” said the IMA. “His family said nobody could remain indifferent in the face of his optimism and the endless positive energy he spread to all. He always supported and helped his friends and family in their time of need.”

Michael, the IMA eulogy continued, “was an incredible family man, gave his whole soul to his family — was a warm husband to Nina, a role model to his children and a loving grandfather to his grandchildren… the medical profession served as a mission and a huge responsibility to him.”

In his free time he loved to play chess, teaching it also to his grandchildren, and he always stayed in shape and exercised his entire life, said loved ones, including being an active table tennis player.

In a video memorial, his middle son, Sergey, said that Michael was a “loving father, a caring father, he had a huge amount of charisma, that affected everyone around him.” No matter how hard he worked, he said, “he also found the time to take Mom and to come visit us and help us, all three of us, with the grandchildren.”

His wife, Nina, said in the video, “I’m a pessimist and he was an optimist. Together we would solve problems, we’d decide on things together.” Together, she said, “we decided to move to Israel to ensure a future for our children.”

“He was my other half,” she said. “We used to go everywhere together, always the two of us, and now… we were together 44 years, almost 45. He was so kind, he was very sincere. He wanted to help people. As a husband, he was very gentle and caring. The perfect husband, perfect.”

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