Zohar Meiri, 55: Dad of 2 daughters loved to go fishing with friends

Zohar Meiri, 55, from Sderot, was murdered by Hamas terrorists in the city on October 7.

He set out early that morning to go fishing on the Zikim Beach. While he was on the way there, heavy rocket fire began, and his wife called to tell him to come home.

Zohar decided to head back, and he stopped at a gas station in Sderot, where he encountered terrorists who shot him in the hand. He tried to get out of the car to flee but the terrorists opened fire again and he was killed.

He was buried in Kibbutz Givat Brenner on October 11. He is survived by his wife, Yelena, their two daughters, Eden and Batel, his mother Carmela, and his siblings Dror and Tamir. He was predeceased by his father, Zecharia.

Zohar was born in the small community of Beit Elazari, near Gedera, according to a state eulogy.

He was raised and educated in the moshav, and loved playing soccer, participating in a local team until he injured his knee.

After finishing high school he enlisted in the IDF, serving as a sniper in the Givati Brigade. In 2004 he married Yelena and they had two daughters, settling in Sderot.

Zohar worked for a period as a massage therapist, then in a hospital and later as a cab and minibus driver. His family said he loved music, with Eyal Golan, Zohar Argov and Shlomo Artzi among his favorites. He also loved fishing and would head out most weekends with friends to fish.

On his gravestone, his family wrote: “Our dear father and beloved husband — we miss you and love you so much, you will always be missed in our hearts.”

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