Maj. Amir Manzhor Naim, z”l

Major (Res.) Amir Manzhor Naim, son of Orna and Asher, brother to Moran and Dekel, husband of Shahar, and father of Rafael, grew up and lived in Kibbutz Erez. He was a witty, sharp-minded child with a big smile. A salt-of-the-earth man, a kibbutznik at heart, principled, a lover of people and of the land, his nation and country. Amir was educated at Sha’ar HaNegev Regional School. He was opinionated, curious, and self-taught – a fascinating conversationalist who always strove to learn and know more. He was a wise and cynical man who knew how to embrace and make those around him laugh to tears.

Amir did a year of premilitary service at Mitzpeh Gilad within the framework of “Hashomer HaChadash,” a social-Zionist organization.

In July 2015, Amir enlisted in the Engineering Corps, in the Yahalom Unit. He served in the EOD Unit. Amir went to Officers’ Course, during which he was injured and underwent surgery. After recovering, he returned to service and was assigned as an engineering officer at the Yokne’am command training base. In the reserves, he served as a tunnel officer in the Golani Brigade. In this role, Amir was awarded a citation for his actions in Operation Guardian of the Walls. He was also part of his kibbutz’s rapid response team. He said it was unthinkable that something would happen in the kibbutz and that he would not be there to defend his home.

Amir lived a full life and was a man of action. He studied for a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at the Sami Shamoon Academic College of Engineering and worked as a student at Intel. In his spare time, he brewed beer, went on jeep trips, welded, built smokers, and prepared meat. Amir did everything with talent, dedication, and a warm spirit. He was a devoted and loving son, brother, and husband. He met his wife Shahar when they were in high school. After he fell, Shahar said, “I was blessed with the man of my dreams – the perfect combination of the strong man who envelops and gives complete security and the romantic, gentle, loving, and pampering man.”

On the morning of October 7, 2023, the holiday of Simchat Torah 5784, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack on Israel. Under the cover of barrages of thousands of rockets, thousands of armed terrorists crossed the border into Israel, infiltrating cities and taking control of communities, outposts, and bases. The terrorists murdered around eight hundred civilians and abducted hundreds of Israelis to the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of security personnel fell in the battles. Following the attack, Israel went to war. That morning, Amir was at his home in Kibbutz Erez. Together with his friends from the rapid response team, he rushed out and spotted dozens of armed terrorists on their way to the kibbutz gate. Amir opened fire on the terrorists. Amir, along with his comrades in the rapid response team, fought with supreme bravery in a battle of the few against the many for long hours at the back gate of Kibbutz Erez.

On October 7, 2023, Amir fell in battle while repelling the terrorists from the gate of Kibbutz Erez, preventing a massacre and saving the entire kibbutz. He was 27 years old. Amir was laid to rest in the cemetery at Kibbutz Erez. Six months after Amir fell, his firstborn son, Rafael, was born.

May his memory be blessed.