Michael Ostrovsky

Michael Ostrovsky, 77, from Ofakim, was murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7 in Kibbutz Magen. According to reports, he worked in the nearby kibbutz as a guard, and was on duty that morning when terrorists approached the gate and shot him dead. He is survived by his wife, Larisa, his two children, Tatiana and Gennadi, as well as his grandchildren. According to a eulogy on the Ofakim municipal website, Michael was born in Ukraine just after the end of World War II, and as a child loved fishing and playing soccer. Over the years he had worked in engineering as well as a dance teacher, the eulogy said. “He knew how to fix things and give them back to people, and on Novy God [the Russian new year], he would go from house to house giving gifts to children.” He also loved to dance, and attend live performances, and was also part of an ensemble which would sing and dance together. On a memorial site, Timor eulogized him as a “beloved father, grandfather and uncle. A man of family and actions. A man full of humor and joy for life who never rested for a moment… you will be so missed. We love you forever.”