Rami Katzir, 79: Mechanic who worked listening to classical music
A founder of Kibbutz Nir Oz, he was murdered by Hamas in his home on October 7
Avraham “Rami” Katzir, 79, was murdered by Hamas terrorists in his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.
His wife, Hanna, was taken captive to Gaza and released November 24 as part of a truce deal. Their son, Elad, was also taken hostage that day, and slain in captivity by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. His body was retrieved by the IDF in April 2024.
Rami’s funeral was held on November 1, 2023, in Kibbutz Lahav, and he was buried in Nir Oz.
The Katzirs are among the founders of the kibbutz, where they raised their three children, Avital, Elad and Carmit.
Rami, 79, was known as a premier tractor mechanic who fixed the kibbutz agricultural equipment while listening to classical music.
He was considered the community’s “tractor doctor,” able to locate any tractor at any moment and identify what kind of shape it was in.
Known as a gentle soul, a calm and peaceful man, Katzir met and married Hanna 55 years ago at Nir Oz in a joint kibbutz wedding, as was customary back then.
Amir Zinder, who who spent a year working in Nir Oz, called Rami the “mythological director of the mechanic shop for years, until his health situation didn’t allow him to work anymore.”
Amir said Rami loved his work, made sure every one of his tools was always in the right place, all of which “shows his love for the profession and the immense care he had for the garage.”
“You were a sweet, gentle, and kind-hearted man,” his daughter, Carmit, wrote on Facebook. “You were composed, loved quiet, the work in the garage, the home, with the tea and lemon, and the computer.”
“You were a soft and wonderful grandfather who loved his grandchildren with all his soul,” she continued. “You loved the trips around the kibbutz, and looked forward to them. To sit and rest on a bench, to laugh with Mom, with Elad, with a friend who stopped for a moment to rest beside you… you really loved Chaim Peri and Aviv Atzili who worked with you in the garage [and were killed by Hamas]… your heart would have broken, Dad. At least now your heart is not broken.”
