Reuven Weisman, 57: Six Day War orphan killed guarding his children
Murdered by Hamas terrorists in Ofakim on October 7
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Reuven Weisman, 57, from Ofakim, was murdered by Hamas terrorists next to his home on October 7.
The morning of the attack, Reuven told his children to hide in the bomb shelter in their backyard. Fearful of the terrorist invasion of the neighborhood, he left the shelter to patrol the area, armed with nothing more than a metal rod, his children said.
A terrorist in the neighbor’s backyard shot Reuven in the head while his children watched on. “I saw it happen, I saw how his glasses flew off his face when he was shot,” his daughter told Ynet.
He was buried in Ofakim. He is survived by his children, Lior, 32, Koral, 31, Shoham, 26, and Gil, 25, his grandchildren Alma and Lavie and his siblings.
His father, Maurice, a Moroccan immigrant, was killed fighting during the Six Day War before Reuven turned 2. Born and raised in Ofakim, after finishing high school Reuven enlisted in the army and served as a driver for heavy equipment. After his release, he pursued a career as a truck driver, according to an Ofakim eulogy.
Reuven’s sister, Ayala, said in a memorial video that he “lived a simple life, a life of work, home, work, home, a modest man. I learned many things from him and his strength,” she said, noting that in later life Reuven decided to become religiously observant, in particular after the death of their mother.
“He went though so many things in life,” she said, also noting a difficult divorce. “He worked nonstop to take care of his children — he worked just so he could provide for his children,” and would cook for the whole family. “He had a huge heart, he was very generous.”
His daughter, Koral, told Ynet that her father “was the support system for all of us, since he was killed — the family has fallen apart. He was the one who always made sure that everyone had somewhere to live, he’d cut corners for himself so we wouldn’t be lacking.
“He was a modest man — except for cigarettes he never bought himself anything,” she added. “At home, there was always tons of food, he knew how to support the family. I will thank him my whole life for teaching me that lesson.”
The day of the attack, she said, he ordered his children to hide while he set out to try and protect them.
“That was Dad, he wasn’t afraid, he was just concerned for his children,” she said.
The Times of Israel Community.