Those we have lost

Cpt. Amir Zur, 23: ‘You will always be our guardian angel’

Killed in the battle to free Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7

Lieutenant Amir Zur, 23, fell in battle at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, October 7, 2023. (courtesy)
Lieutenant Amir Zur, 23, fell in battle at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, October 7, 2023. (courtesy)

Cpt. Amir Zur, 23, a paramedic in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit, fell in battle while attempting to “save and free” Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, his sister Ofri told The Times of Israel.

His siblings shared that Zur was a joyous child, an exceptional pupil and an accomplished pianist. He “will always be the most successful and handsome among us.”

In his later teen years, Zur was a national champion in navigation and competed in international competitions. He completed an officer’s course for the Sayeret Matkal unit with highest distinction.

With all his talents and abilities — “he met every goal he set for himself,” the siblings said — he was exceptionally modest, they said.

“Amir, you will always be our source of strength to believe in humanity, to believe that it is possible that there really will be goodness,” the siblings said. “Amir, you will always be our guardian angel.”

Zur is the youngest of four children born to parents Yaniv and Esther Zur, who were both raised on kibbutzim in the Negev that their parents — some who fled Nazi Europe — helped found.

He was buried on October 12 in Kibbutz Ga’ash, where his brother Eitan serves as a secular rabbi. He is survived by his parents Yaniv and Esther and three siblings, Eitan, Ofri and Tomer.

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