Father of Nova Victim Donates Engagement Rings to IDF Soldiers in Son’s Memory

In a heartfelt tribute to his son, Adir Mesika, who was tragically murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, Alon Mesika has launched a project to help IDF soldiers begin the next chapter of their lives. Adir, 23, was killed during the Nova Festival massacre, where he courageously helped others escape, sacrificing his life in the process.

To honor Adir’s memory, Alon, a jeweler with decades of experience in Israel’s diamond capital, Ramat Gan, has been donating engagement rings to financially struggling IDF soldiers. The initiative, known as “Adir’s Diamonds,” began shortly after Adir’s death when Alon heard of a soldier who wanted to propose but was unable to afford a ring. Alon decided to gift the soldier a ring, and from that moment, the project took off.

Since November 2023, Alon has given away 102 rings, each valued between 5,000 to 8,000 shekels ($1,360 to $2,100), to IDF soldiers who had postponed proposing due to financial constraints.

“The best, best, best part is getting the hugs from the soldiers,” Alon shared in an emotional interview with Tablet. He explained that the initiative is his way of countering the devastation wrought by Hamas, whose goal in murdering young Israelis was to prevent the formation of future Jewish families.

“Adir is not going to build a home in Israel,” Alon said. “But because of him, a lot of people will.” Through this initiative, Alon is not only honoring his son’s legacy but also ensuring that Adir’s memory lives on in the many families that will be created because of his generosity.

Alon has no plans to stop the project and is determined to continue creating “as many rings as I can,” helping more soldiers start their own families and, in doing so, keep the spirit of his son alive.

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