YAKHINI, Israel (Press Release) – Three years after the October 7 massacre, the final victim killed in the attack at Moshav Yakhini has been brought to rest after his family opened a bedroom that had remained locked since the morning he was murdered.
Elitzur Hajbi, z”l, was killed in the Hamas attack on Yakhini on October 7, 2023. His family was unable to access the room where he was killed. While the rest of the home was cleaned and restored, the room remained sealed for three years.
In recent days, ahead of the third anniversary of October 7, the family finally gathered the strength to open the door. They found remains inside and contacted ZAKA Search & Rescue for help.
This morning, ZAKA volunteers from the organization’s unit in Sderot arrived at the home alongside ZAKA Deputy Director of Operations Chaim Weingarten and ZAKA Lachish Region Commander Rabbi Avi Deri. The team spent several hours carrying out the sacred work of collecting the remains and ensuring that Hajbi could finally be brought to burial with the dignity and respect he deserves.
“Walking into that room this morning was a chilling closing of the circle,” said ZAKA Search & Rescue CEO Dubi Weissenstern. “Three years after October 7, we returned to complete the sacred work that began on that terrible morning. For Elitzur’s family, this was a room they could not enter. For us, our responsibility was not complete until we could bring him to rest with the dignity and respect every person deserves.”
“For three years, that room remained frozen in time for Elitzur’s family,” said ZAKA’s US-Based Executive Director Moshe Rozenberg. “Opening the door was an incredibly difficult moment, but it allowed the family to finally take this painful step. ZAKA was there to ensure that Elitzur was treated with dignity and respect and that his family could bring him to burial.”
“Unlike three years ago, today we were not working alone among destroyed homes, but together with Elitzur’s son and brother,” said Rabbi Deri. “It is difficult to put the feelings into words. We worked with reverence and sensitivity, praying that our work would bring the family some measure of comfort.”
With the work completed, Elitzur Hajbi, z”l, was finally brought to rest, three years to the day after the terror attack that took his life.
Founded to honor the dead in accordance with religious tradition, ZAKA Search & Rescue has evolved into a full-scale emergency response network, staffed by more than 4,000 trained volunteers operating 24/7 across Israel to honor the dead, aid the living and bring dignity in times of devastation.
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Preceding provided by ZAKA. Yakhini, a Yemenite Jewish moshav, is part of San Diego’s sister municipality, Sha’ar HaNegev.