Rinat Zagdon

Daughter of Muriel and Hula Zagdon.

She grew up in Eleazar, in Gush Etzion. She attended high school at Ulpana Ofra. She completed her National Service at “Achuzat Sarah” Children’s Home in Bnei Brak, and at Beit Finger — a residence for people with severe disabilities. She later worked in agriculture through the “HaYogev” association.

In her final year, she traveled abroad. Upon returning to Israel — five months before she was murdered — she was clarifying her professional path and decided to work with at-risk youth, while also developing her singing and musical talents alongside other pursuits.

Everything we tell about her and share with the world will always be only a fraction of who she truly was. How much joy Rinat brought into our lives, how she made us laugh. She was filled with a deep and genuine inner happiness — full of vitality, serene and at ease in her daily life.

Her head crowned with bursting curls — curls of joy, curls of playfulness, curls of grace.

From the day she was born, she “magnetized” everyone to her, and as she grew, her circle only widened. With her unique personality, she was filled with love for others, generosity of spirit, and a pure, nonjudgmental heart. She radiated warmth and light toward every single person. Circle upon circle upon circle — countless circles of friends and all those whose lives she touched. From every background and every walk of life. Each encounter remains, now and forever, an eternal memory that will never fade.

Whenever she sang, a breathtaking voice poured forth — stirring the deepest strings of the soul and flowing through like an eternal current of life.

Her jokes and the faces she would make would leave us doubled over with laughter, planting within us a joy that will last forever.

Children — young and old — were drawn to her. She made them laugh, danced with them, lifted them high, told them stories, and joined them in their games, becoming one of them across the full spectrum of ages around her.

There is so much more. With each passing day, as time moves forward, she continues to reveal herself to us in the strength and uniqueness of her spirit. From here, we will continue to spread her great light each and every day.

Rinat was murdered in the Simchat Torah War (5784), at the Nova Festival in Re’im. She fell in sanctification of God’s Name, together with the soldiers and the other holy souls — the finest young men and women of our people.

For 23 years, Rinat was a precious gift of life to us — her family — and to all who were blessed to know her.

May God avenge her blood.

May her memory be a blessing.