Rotem Kalderon, 66: Lifelong kibbutznik and inspiring educator
Murdered by Hamas terrorists in her home in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7
Rotem Kalderon, 66, was murdered by Hamas terrorists in her home in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7.
She was home alone when the Hamas invasion began, and messaged friends and family that she was trying to hold the door to her reinforced room closed for hours. For two weeks after the attack, Rotem was considered missing, until her body was located and identified.
Rotem was buried on October 23 in Kibbutz Revivim, a little over a week after what would have been her 67th birthday. She is survived by her three children, Adam, Omer and Mika, three grandchildren, Aviv, Gal and Bar, and her older brothers Yuval and Raviv. She was predeceased by her husband, Moshe (Kaldi), who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2005.
A lifelong Be’eri resident, she was born there and remained there until her death, save for her military service in Sharm El Sheikh, her studies in the north, and two years in which she lived in Tel Aviv after her husband was killed. In recent years, she found love again with Baruch, who lived in Hatzor, and they often spent weekends together.
Rotem worked for many years in education, first at the local high school and later as the director of the kibbutz’s early childhood education. In a statement, the Education Ministry said, “Rotem was an excellent and active member of staff and a beloved teacher by her students. As a counselor, she knew how to speak with students at eye level, and lead them to success with a sense of security that they had a support system behind them.”
After her retirement, Rotem spent a lot of time volunteering, including at a center for victims of sexual assault as well as an organization for IDF veterans with PTSD.
Her friend and former colleague, Varda Ben Bassat, told Israel Hayom that they first met in the 90s while teaching physical education at the same school.
“Rotem was a person who loves people,” she said. “She loves people, teens, kids, she always made sure to relate to her students on their level, and she was like a mom, dad, sister and counselor figure to them. She had the expertise to both walk with them and push them forward.”
Even after she topped teaching, Varda said, “She would stay in touch with her students, come to their weddings, events, she was very significant to them.” When the two friends traveled together to India, even there Rotem was an informal educator, joked Varda, telling groups of young Israelis they met to wear their helmets “and to think of their mothers.”
Her daughter, Mika, shared on Facebook the eulogy she read at her mother’s funeral: “How can I sum up your entire life?”
“The most beautiful, cool, free-spirited and inspirational mother and woman, who always fought to fulfill yourself, who followed her dreams and always listened to and touched everyone,” wrote Mike. “You loved everyone! And everyone loved and admired you.”
“Thank you for being there for us always, for being there for your friends, and our friends as well,” Mika continued. “Thank you for being the best mom, and that I got to tell you that all the time, to tell my friends how you were special. Thank you for believing in us and supporting our art… you know that you have left behind a united and loving family, and I promise we will continue that way. And thanks to you, we also know how to laugh during difficult times like these.”
