Michel Nisenbaum, 59, from Sderot, was murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Mefalsim junction on October 7, and his body kidnapped to Gaza.
His body was recovered by IDF troops from Gaza on May 24, 2024, and he was brought to burial in Israel. He was laid to rest on May 26 in Ashkelon.
Michel was on his way to the IDF’s Gaza Division base near Re’im to collect his young granddaughter, Mika, who had been staying with his non-commissioned officer son-in-law, but he never made it to the base that was under attack that morning. His granddaughter and son-in-law managed to survive the onslaught.
His family said they were speaking with him on the phone early that morning when the call abruptly ended. Nearly 30 minutes later, they said, his daughter managed to get through and heard an unfamiliar voice speaking Arabic. His car was later found burned, although there was no trace of him inside. His family did not know of his fate until his body was recovered by troops seven months later.
Michel is survived by his two daughters, Chen and Michal, and six grandchildren, one of whom was born after he was killed and kidnapped.
A native of Niteroi, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Michel moved to Israel in 1988. The Hostage Families Forum said he “was a man of many talents who, alongside his work, also volunteered for Magen David Adom and the Border Police.”
Michel worked at the “Salad Trail” farm in Talmei Yosef near the southern Gaza border as a guide to tour groups, explaining about the many different crops they managed to cultivate in the arid desert.
“Everyone fell in love with him. I taught him about agriculture, but he learned it all very quickly and makes such good connections with all our customers,” his boss, Uri Alon, told the Forward. “The last thing he did was typical Michel Nisenbaum: Someone asked for help and he jumped to do it.”
At his funeral, his daughter, Chen, said, “We did everything so that everyone would get to know you. Sorry we weren’t able to bring you back.”
“From the second the terrorists answered your cell phone, I knew that life would not be the same,” she said. “The children will grow up and remember what a heroic grandfather you were, who was not afraid of the terrorists and saved people on the way. Thanks to you, they are here. I love and miss you. Now you are home.”
