Bodies of IDF paratrooper and Kibbutz leader returned home as heroes

Tamir Adar Aryeh Zalmanovich
Tamir Adar and Aryeh Zalmanovich. (X Screenshot)

IDF reservist Tamir Adar bravely defended Nir Oz on October 7, was gravely wounded, captured by Hamas, and later died from his injuries.

By The IDF Club

Two men from Kibbutz Nir Oz, Master Sergeant (Res.) Tamir Adar, 38, and Aryeh (Zalman) Zalmanovich, 85, were returned to Israel this week and positively identified after forensic testing coordinated with the Israel Police and the IDF Rabbinate. IDF representatives personally informed the families once the process was complete.

Tamir Adar, a reservist in the IDF Paratroopers Brigade and deputy security coordinator for Nir Oz, rushed into action on the morning of October 7, leaving his home at 6:30 a.m. to defend his community.

He told his wife, Hadas, to stay inside with their two young children, and alongside his fellow emergency squad members, he fought bravely to hold off the Hamas assault. Gravely wounded in combat, he was captured and later died from his injuries in Gaza.

Adar’s dedication reflects the courage and professionalism of Israel’s reservists, whose commitment to protect civilians often demands the ultimate sacrifice.

A grandson of Yaffa Adar, 85, a Holocaust survivor also kidnapped during the attack and released during the ceasefire, Tamir’s legacy now carries forward a family history of resilience and devotion to Israel.

Aryeh Zalmanovich, one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was taken from his home and murdered in captivity.

Remembered by his family as “a man of the earth his whole life, who worked in agriculture and crops; a man of reading with vast knowledge in history and the land,” Zalmanovich dedicated his life to building and sustaining his community.

The return of their bodies highlights both the heroism of those who stood against the terrorists and the ongoing crimes of Hamas, which continues to hold the remains of other murdered Israelis.

Through their service, courage, and sacrifice, Tamir Adar and Aryeh Zalmanovich exemplify the unyielding spirit of the IDF and the communities it protects.

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