Dror Or, Murdered Hostage from Kibbutz Be’eri, Laid to Rest

A final chapter of heartbreak was written Sunday as Kibbutz Be’eri laid to rest Dror Or, one of the last hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Or’s remains, returned to Israel last week via the Red Cross, were buried in the soil of his beloved kibbutz, closing a painful circle that began on the morning of October 7, 2023.

Dozens of residents from the Eshkol region gathered at the Re’im and Be’eri junctions to honor the 48-year-old father, chef, and cheese maker who embodied the spirit of his community. President Isaac Herzog attended the funeral and paid tribute to Or, calling it “a day of pain and sorrow, but also of dignity, as we finally return Dror to the land he so deeply loved.”

Dror Or’s life was a blend of creativity, resilience, and warmth. Born in Kibbutz Re’im, he later studied culinary arts in Tel Aviv and trained in cheese making in France and Italy. After meeting his wife, Yonat, from Be’eri, the couple moved to the kibbutz where Dror became a cornerstone of the award-winning Be’eri Dairy. He was also a yoga instructor, avid traveler, and devoted father.

On October 7, terrorists stormed their home. Dror and Yonat were attacked; Yonat was murdered on site, and Dror was taken hostage, fatally wounded. Before the attack, the couple instructed their children Noam, 17, and Alma, 13 to jump out a window and escape. Both were kidnapped but later returned to Israel after 50 days in captivity.

Dror’s brother, Elad, delivered a moving eulogy at the funeral. “I will never in my life truly understand how it could be that this happened to you and to Yonat,” he said. “I will never forget, and never forgive, the unbearably long time in which we were forced to beg for help and rescue from the ongoing terror act of your captivity.”

His words were echoed by many who knew Dror as a man of peace, passion, and depth qualities that made his loss all the more devastating.

Or’s burial comes amid a national reckoning with the horrors of the October 7 massacre, as Israel continues to mourn the lives stolen and fight for the return of those still held captive. His legacy, however, lives on through his children, his community, and the cheese, craft, and calm he shared with so many.

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