Lin Dafni

From Kibbutz Ein HaMifratz.

Daughter of Ilayil and Yogev Dafni, and the eldest sister of Yahli and Eden.

Born on the 23rd of Tishrei 5761 (October 22, 2000) in Haifa. She grew up and was educated in Kibbutz Ein HaMifratz.

A beautiful, smiling, and sociable girl. She studied at the elementary school “Gvanim – Ein HaMifratz,” where she met her friend Ziv Frenkel, and from then on the two became inseparable. A fellow student recalled: “They were simply the happiest, most radiant, and most sociable girls. Everyone was drawn to them like a magnet.”

She later studied at “Beit Hinuch Ofek” High School in Kibbutz Evron, majoring in photography. Lin was gifted with a highly developed aesthetic sense and loved to photograph at every opportunity.

Her mother said: “Lin was a ray of sunshine… we will always remember her as beautiful, joyful, kind-hearted, young, and deeply loved.”

She was a devoted daughter and a loving, supportive sister to her siblings.

She shared a particularly close and special bond with her grandparents, caring for them, helping them, and showering them with love.

After her studies, she enlisted in the army and served as a reserve NCO.

After her discharge, she worked in various temporary jobs, including as a supervisor enforcing COVID regulations at the “Galim Ein HaMifratz” elementary school, and as a waitress, saving money for her big trip abroad.

She later traveled with her friend Ziv to South and Central America, touring for four and a half months. She attended parties and carnivals, practiced extreme sports, bungee jumping and zip-lining, and made new friends. The trip contributed greatly to her personal growth and independence. Her friend Lihi said: “She rediscovered herself, transformed from a girl into a woman who knew her worth, what she wanted from herself, independent and driven. She aspired, set goals for herself, and planned a great future.” She added: “Lin was gentle of soul, an angel. She would look at you with her green eyes and you would melt. When she smiled, I smiled, and when she was sad, I was sad. I could never understand how someone so beautiful could be sad. Everyone who knew her fell in love with her.”

After returning from the trip, she took her first steps in the world of modeling, and due to her love of design and aesthetics, planned to study graphic design or interior design.

She was a sensitive, optimistic woman, full of joy for life, spreading light and happiness wherever she went.

In her free time, she loved to photograph nature, the sea, sunsets, sunrises, food, family members, friends, dogs, and selfies. She also enjoyed working in the kitchen, preparing healthy and beautifully designed dishes, practiced Pilates, and spent time with friends.

On the weekend at the beginning of October 2023, Lin traveled with Ziv and other friends to the “Nova” music festival near Kibbutz Re’im, where together with about three thousand revelers they danced and celebrated.

On Saturday, the 22nd of Tishrei 5784, Simchat Torah, October 7, 2023, at 6:30 in the morning, the Hamas terrorist organization launched a surprise attack on Israel. Under the cover of massive rocket and missile fire from the Gaza Strip into wide areas of the country, thousands of terrorists breached the border fence, infiltrating by land, sea, and air, and began a murderous assault on the Gaza border communities, kibbutzim and moshavim, and on the nearby cities of Sderot, Ofakim, and Netivot; on participants at nature music festivals near the kibbutzim Re’im and Nirim; on IDF bases; and on civilians traveling on the roads in the area. The terrorists murdered approximately eight hundred civilians of all ages in their homes, cars, and at festivals, after committing severe crimes including rape and abuse. Hundreds of Israelis, soldiers and civilians, as well as foreign workers from the kibbutzim, were abducted to the Gaza Strip. Homes and property were destroyed, looted, and set on fire. At the music festival, more than 380 revelers were murdered, and about forty participants were abducted to Gaza. More than three hundred soldiers, police officers, and members of local emergency squads fell in battle. That morning, the war began.

As the terrorist attack began, Lin and her friends tried to leave the area by car, but the roads were blocked. They returned to the festival grounds and hid inside a shipping container that served as a forward police command post. When the terrorists arrived, Lin and Ziv fled and tried to hide in an ambulance parked at the site. The terrorists opened fire at the ambulance, threw grenades, and ultimately fired an RPG missile that killed those hiding nearby. Lin was declared missing, and a week later her family received the devastating news. Her friend Ziv was also murdered that day.

Lin Dafni was murdered by terrorists at the Nova festival near Kibbutz Re’im on the 22nd of Tishrei 5784 (October 7, 2023). She was 22 years old.

She was laid to rest at the cemetery in Kibbutz Ein HaMifratz, where she was buried alongside her friend Ziv Frenkel.

She is survived by her parents and two siblings.

May her memory be a blessing.