Sgt. Maj. Boris Danilov, 34: Father of 2 was family’s ‘beating heart’

Sgt. Maj. Boris Danilov, 34, a police officer in the coordination of enforcement operations unit, from Hadera, was killed on October 7 battling the Hamas invasion of Kibbutz Be’eri.

With the start of the attack, Boris was sent with his comrades toward Be’eri, one of the hardest-hit kibbutzes near the Gaza border. He entered the kibbutz with eight other police officers and a civilian, in two jeeps.

They were ambushed almost immediately by Hamas gunmen, and all 10 of them were killed after RPG and later gunfire hit their vehicles. He was slain alongside his commander, Supt. Dan Ganot, and seven other police officers, including Sgt. First Class Mulugeta Gadif, Sgt. 1st Class Dor Mangadi and Supt. Vadim Blih and others.

Boris was killed the day after his 34th birthday.

He was buried in Hadera on October 16. He is survived by his wife, Sara, their two children, Ariel and Itamar, his mother Bella and his siblings Marina and Ovadia.

Born in Russia, he moved to Israel with his family in 1994, when he was a young child. He was raised in Hadera, where he attended local schools.

After graduating, Boris enlisted in the IDF and served in the Border Police. When he was released, Boris joined the Israel Police in 2011, serving in the coordination of enforcement operations unit. In 2016 he received a citation from the police for his activity during operations in Jerusalem.

During his service he also completed a bachelor’s degree in security studies and a master’s degree in Judaic studies from the University of Haifa. He made sure to keep in shape and worked out regularly and was a devoted family man.

His brother, Ovadia, wrote that “my brother Boris was so much more than a brother to me, he was a role model, a figure who influenced every one of my decisions.”

“Boris was an incredible guy, strong, smart, modest and a man who set an example for all those around him,” added Ovadia. “Everything I do today, every path I choose, I do it out of inspiration from him.”

His wife, Sara, wrote on Facebook that Boris “touched so many people — You were such a special and modest man… You accomplished everything possible! You were successful in all that you touched, you were invincible in everything.”

“You were a big guy inside and out, tough at first glance but you had the purest heart, with endless generosity and help for others,” she added. “You were admired and loved as a warrior, a husband, a friend, a brother, a son.”

Sara wrote of their five years together, how “from the first moment I saw you I knew you were mine. We managed to do so much together, you always protected me and the kids and protected us from anything bad… You were the beating heart of our home, we were everything to you, you always made sure to check that we were OK and not lacking for anything.”

“Thank you for my two gifts, my strength in life, Ariel and Itamar who are with me on this journey… I love you and I miss you every second.”

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