Sgt. Shoham Nidam, 19: Golani soldier remembered for ‘rolling laughter’

Sgt. Shoham Shlomo Nidam, 19, a technician in the Golani Brigade, from Kiryat Shmona, was killed on October 7 battling the Hamas invasion of the Nahal Oz IDF outpost.

Shoham had begun his mandatory army service in February 2023, less than seven months before he was slain. He was stationed at the Nahal Oz post, and was on guard duty overnight when the Hamas invasion began, his father said.

At 7 a.m. he texted his dad, “If something happens to me, I love you guys,” before adding, “They’re nearby. You won’t believe what’s happening here.” That was the last message he sent.

Shoham sought safety in a bomb shelter alongside five balloon operators as they waged a battle against the Hamas intruders — but they were vastly outnumbered and all were slain in the gunfight early that morning. Five days after he was killed, Shoham’s family was officially informed of his death.

He was buried on October 13 in Kiryat Shmona. He is survived by his parents, Carmit and Avi, and his younger sister Rotem.

His aunt, Kochi Bonan, wrote on Facebook to “our Shoham.”

“I can’t describe the pain that is sitting in our hearts, how can this be your fate?” she wrote. “A pure and good boy who lit up the world… We miss your presence, your rolling laughter, your innocence and your purity. You are missed in every moment, you will forever remain Shoham, our perfect angel.”

A former teacher, Livnat Artzi, described on Facebook her memories of “the rolling laughter of an adolescent boy.”

“A boy whom I taught for two years, a boy — a teen — who came shyly into the classroom and never cursed or insulted anyone, but spread love and smiles everywhere,” she wrote.

Shoham’s mother, Carmit, wrote on Instagram, “My Shoham, my perfect boy.”

“I was privileged to be your mom for 20 years of joy, pleasure, and endless love,” she added. “I miss you, I miss our conversations, the laughter, the songs, I miss my son. You are so missed, there is a hole in my heart since you left.”

Every moment of the day “I think about you, how special you were, how much you loved us, respected us, how much you cared for us and how modest you were,” Carmit continued. “You were a dream child. Everyone who met you loved you… You were the perfect brother to Rotem, you loved each other so much, you were the best of friends.”

“When you left, you took my heart with you, and my soul. Without you, life is empty of meaning.”

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