Dan Zomer

Dan Yehuda Zomer, 27, from Ness Ziona, was murdered by Hamas terrorists while trying to flee the Psyduck music festival on October 7.

He was last seen fleeing the rave with fellow partygoer Gilad Ben-Yehuda, captured in one final photo as Dan drove away from the site of the festival. According to reports, they sought safety with others in a roadside bombshelter near Kibbutz Be’eri at one point, but Dan decided to leave the structure, saying it didn’t feel safe.

In his last phone call to his family sometime after 12:30, “He said, ‘They’re killing me, mom they’re killing me,'” his mother later recounted.

After four days of searching, his body was found. He was buried on October 10 in Ness Ziona. He is survived by his parents, Noa and Ilan, and his younger sister Maya.

Dan was pursuing a psychology degree at the Peres Academic Center in Rehovot, and also working part-time in search engine optimization at the Rankey startup. He was also a private tutor in English and math for elementary, middle and high school students.

He headed to the festival for one last celebration just before he was slated to start the third year of his degree, his family said.

His friends and family also recalled his love for music, how he wrote songs, and also played drums and guitar. In his memory, his friends raised funds to be able to publicly release a song he wrote and recorded before his death.

“From his childhood, he lived in the world of music, he was a talented artist, composer, musician and singer,” his friend Shir Edry wrote on the fundraising page. “Before his death, Dan managed to record an original song that he wrote, composed and sang. We know that his biggest dream was to release this song and give it life. Dan won’t dream anymore, won’t write more songs, won’t compose more melodies and will never play or sing ever again.”

His friend Bar Hinitz wrote online: “Dan’chuk, my beloved brother, how much I miss you.”

“A few times I automatically thought to call you and then it suddenly hits me again, that nobody will answer on the other side,” Hinitz wrote.

His friends are working to release his song, Bar wrote, “So the whole world will know you and hear it. That the whole world will hear what a sensitive soul of an artist you had… I know that you’re up above, smiling and probably making a dark joke,” he added. “I love you so, so much my brother.”

His mother, Noa, recalled in tears her final conversation with him on that Saturday and said she hoped the world would remember her beloved son.

“He was a boy with such a good character, a boy with a gentle soul, a student, his whole dream was to be a clinical psychologist and help people,” his mother, Noa, told the Kan public broadcaster. “He was the salt of the earth, educated and ethical, wanted to always give back everywhere… he wanted to treat children. I just want people to remember, to know that he was here, a 27-year-old boy who was pure, and evil murderers took my son from me.”
Source: The Times of Israel