Supt. Dan Ganot, 41: Cop spent time mentoring at-risk youth

Supt. Dan Ganot, 41, a commander in the Israel Police’s coordination of enforcement operations unit, from Harish, was killed battling Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7.

Dan and eight other officers, along with a civilian, entered Be’eri together in two armored jeeps the morning of the Hamas attack, aiming to help rescue the besieged residents. 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 Sgt. First Class Mulugeta Gadif, Sgt. 1st Class Dor Mangadi and Supt. Vadim Blih.

Dan’s body was only able to be identified a week later, and he was buried on October 15 in Zichron Yaakov. He is survived by his daughters, Annabel and Shila, his parents, Yehuda and Racheli Efrat, and his brothers Ofir and Gilad.

In a video made to memorialize Dan, his friends and family said he loved music, surfing and bike rides.

After finishing his military service, Dan spent a few years in the Caribbean. When he returned to Israel, he joined the Israel Police where he advanced as far as he could before starting officer training. Before serving in his final position, Dan was the commander of police stations in Or Akiva and Hadera.

Dan was a big fan of the Maccabi Haifa soccer club, which published a memorial page for him, and he attended many of their games with his brother Ofir.

His mother, Racheli Efrat, told the club that “Dan was a hero in life and not just in Be’eri.”

“He got youth away from drugs and crime. After 14-hour shifts, he would go and play with at-risk youth and would clean up beaches with them as part of educational programs,” she said, adding he “wouldn’t want us to remember him as a fighter and a hero, but as a person who worked to help young people.”

After Dan’s death, Or Akiva Municipality’s youth department head, Shani Rabi, told Racheli Efrat, “Dan did here what nobody else could do, and he gave our youth hope. As a police commander, he didn’t have to do it, but he was full of morals and made other police officers come and spend time with the youth and teach them a different way.”

At a memorial ceremony for him in Or Akiva in February, his mother added, “Dan instilled in us that anything is possible, that we can learn the language of unity, love, friendship, and togetherness.”

Brother Ofir said, “Dan was a patriot from birth who loved helping everyone and was always the first one wherever help was needed.”

“Dan left behind a clear and pure legacy of Zionism, love for his country, and dedication, which we will hold in our hearts and hand down in his name to future generations forever,” said his friend, Ori, at a memorial ceremony.

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