Staff Sgt. Daniel Danino, 21: Golani soldier who was ‘simply a leader’
Killed battling Hamas terrorists at the Erez Crossing on the Gaza border on October 7
Staff Sgt. Daniel Moshe Danino, 21, a Golani Brigade soldier from Haifa, was killed on October 7 at the Erez Crossing along the Gaza border.
The Erez Crossing was one of the points at which Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel that day, killing a number of soldiers stationed there, including Sgt. Adir Tahar, Staff Sgt. Max Rabinov and Sgt. Ariel Erez. The outnumbered soldiers tried to fight back the slew of terror invaders, but many, including Daniel, were ultimately killed in the firefight.
Daniel was buried on October 11 in Kiryat Yam outside Haifa. He is survived by his parents, Anat and Shalom, and his older sisters Shani and Mirel.
He was three weeks away from finishing out his mandatory military service when he was killed, his family said, although he had already signed on to stay on longer in the army.
His family said he was deeply connected to his faith, always made sure to pray and don tefillin each day, and would sing Shabbat songs with great joy with his father every Friday night.
Rabbi Shlomi Kapach, the principal of Daniel’s high school, told a local radio station that “Daniel was a unique kid, and his optimism radiated out to everyone. No matter what area, he was always optimistic, was always smiling and always saw the good. It was rare to see him stressed or unsmiling, he was a consistent student, knew that he wanted to succeed and he succeeded!”
The principal added that Daniel was also a social center of his friend group, “I don’t think there was a single class where he wouldn’t make everyone laugh, including the teachers, in a unique way, and he would calm everybody down.”
His two older sisters spoke about their brother in a number of TV interviews memorializing his life.
“Daniel was a boy with a huge joy for life, he loved everyone as they were, he always had a smile on his lips,” his sister, Mirel, told Channel 13 news. “He was simply a leader, he always made sure to unite and connect others,” including his friends from home and the soldiers he commanded.
“He had a huge heart, he had a sensitivity to his surroundings, with his captivating smile and his huge heart, he knew how to touch every person,” Mirel added.
His sister Shani told the TV station that her little brother was a “sweet and friendly child, with a unique smile, who always made sure we were all together, at every event, every opportunity — we’re a very united and tied together family.”
Shani said Daniel was a “very caring and loving uncle, he always spent time with [his nieces and nephews] and took them to the beach and bought them birthday gifts.”
