Roni Eshel

From Tzur Yitzhak. Born on the 11th of Adar 5764 (March 4, 2004) in Tel Aviv. The eldest daughter of Sharon and Eyal, and sister to Yael and Alon.

At the age of eight, she moved with her family to the community of Tzur Yitzhak in the South Sharon Regional Council, where she grew up. After completing elementary school, she studied at the regional high school.

Roni, or “Ronky Funky” as she was called at home, was a girl of home and family. She knew her parents would always stand by her side and do everything for her, and from them she drew her strength and resilience. She also shared a special bond with her brother and sister. She pampered them, cared for them, protected them, and when needed, also knew how to guide and educate them.

Roni’s motto in life was: “Do everything with a smile and everything will be easier.” Indeed, a constant smile graced her face, and her rolling laughter could be heard from afar. She was full of joy, witty, sarcastic, and funny. At the same time, from a young age she stood out as perceptive, intelligent, and far more mature than her years, one who fought for justice and showed compassion toward people and animals alike.

She loved to dance, spend time with family and friends, and be at the sea. She especially loved to cook. A creative cook, she enjoyed indulgent dishes. One of her favorite creations was the “Roni sandwich” – made from a slice of fried challah, cheese, tomato, avocado, and a sunny-side-up egg.

Roni deeply loved music, and one of her favorite pastimes was driving with her sister and singing loudly together. She especially loved the artists Ran Danker, Tuna, Idan Amedi, Ravid Plotnik, and Taylor Swift.

Her aunt recalls: “Roni was a beloved niece to me and to everyone. We loved being silly and laughing together. She introduced me to Tuna and made me fall in love with his songs too. She was funny and always flowed with humor and nonsense. A good and beloved friend to her siblings and cousins.”

Roni was loved by everyone, adults and children alike. When she entered a room full of children, they immediately noticed her and were drawn to her like a magnet. They felt safe and loved with her, and she would make them laugh, calm them, and play with them. For this reason, she was known in Tzur Yitzhak as the preferred babysitter among both children and parents.

After finishing high school, she traveled with her friends to Cyprus for a pre-enlistment trip, and shortly thereafter enlisted in the army.

On August 8, 2022, Roni enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces as an observation soldier in the Border Defense Corps. The beginning of the course was not easy for her, but she overcame the challenges with great success. Upon completion, she was assigned to Battalion 414, the collection battalion of the Gaza Division, stationed at the Nahal Oz base. She deeply loved her role and understood its great importance in protecting the residents of the Gaza border communities and the citizens of Israel. She carried out her duties with dedication and professionalism.

Roni and the other observation soldiers formed an especially close-knit group, soul sisters like family. She earned the nickname “Roni Esh” and her friends called her “the heart of the command center.”

Roni loved cooking for her friends, and their favorite dish was sausage pasta. Every Friday evening they would prepare a shared meal they had been working on since the afternoon. This meal, known as “Tea Time,” included singing songs whose lyrics expressed their love for their role and commitment to their mission.

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 infiltrated by land, sea, and air, launching a murderous assault on the Gaza border communities, and on the cities of Sderot, Ofakim, and Netivot, on participants at nature parties near the kibbutzim Re’im and Nir Am, on IDF bases, and on civilians traveling in the area. The terrorists murdered approximately eight hundred civilians in their homes and vehicles, after committing severe atrocities, abducted hundreds of Israelis to Gaza, and destroyed, looted, and set fire to homes and property. Hundreds of soldiers, police officers, security personnel, and members of local emergency squads fell in battle. That morning, the war began.

That Saturday, Roni was on base and had already been on duty in the command center since four in the morning. At 6:29 she identified terrorist infiltrations through several points along the fence and alerted forces. She acted with composure and professionalism and for hours continued reporting and calling in forces, until the cameras went dark and she could no longer see what was happening. At 9:27 she managed to exchange messages with her mother, reassuring her that everything was fine and asking her not to worry. Roni’s last message to her mother was: “Mom, I’m fine, don’t worry about me, I love you too,” accompanied by four red hearts. Roni’s exemplary conduct became a symbol of bravery, resourcefulness, and calm under fire, hers and that of her fellow observation soldiers.

Throughout this time, fighters inside the command center fought terrorists who tried to break in and repelled them again and again. After nearly six hours of fighting, the terrorists threw grenades into the command center and set it ablaze with those inside.

Private Roni Eshel fell in battle on the 22nd of Tishrei 5784 (October 7, 2023), at the age of nineteen. After her death, she was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. She was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Kfar Saba. She is survived by her parents, a sister, and a brother.

May her memory be a blessing.