The bloodied aftermath of a kindergarten in Kibbutz Be’eri attacked by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. Photo: Reuters/Amir Cohen
Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced on Tuesday that Menachem Kalmanson and Itiel Zohar — civilians from the West Bank settlement of Otniel who saved over 100 people in Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel on Oct. 7 — will be awarded the 2024 Israel Prize for Civilian Heroism.
“Happy to update about the winners of the Israel Prize for revival and civic heroism — ‘Team Elhanan,’” tweeted Kisch.
“Menachem, his brother Elhanan, and their nephew Itiel Zohar left their home in Otniel, on Simchat Torah, to save the lives of the residents of the settlements in the Gaza Envelope,” Kisch continued. “Despite being told that they were not needed, they arrived at Kibbutz Be’eri and repeatedly entered the attacked kibbutz for long hours, saving dozens of the residents of the kibbutz. In the last house they entered, a terrorist ambushed and shot and killed Elhanan.”
As Kisch mentioned, the trio came to be known as “Team Elhanan” in Israeli media as their heroic story was told following the massacre of Oct. 7, when Hamas terrorists stormed southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 253 as hostages.
Kibbutz Be’eri was one of the hardest hit Israeli communities during the atrocities of Oct. 7. It was almost completely burnt down by Hamas terrorists, who killed about 130 people there — a staggering 10 percent of the kibbutz’s residents. Several others were taken as hostages.
On that fateful day, the Shabbat-observant brothers and their nephew decided to check their phones as the sirens kept ringing, making the quick decision to head south towards the Israeli communities near the Gaza border, fighting terrorists and saving civilians.
Menachem spoke to Israel’s Channel 12 about the honor of receiving the Israel Prize.
“It’s complicated,” he said. “We paid a heavy price for it. I am happy that the State of Israel recognizes what Elhanan gave and contributed. That is where I am at the moment.”
Recounting the events of the day, he said about the loss of his 43-year-old brother: “We have a lot of pain, but there is no regret.”
The Israel Prize has become a controversial issue in recent weeks. Kisch announced last month that the prestigious award would be scaled down drastically in 2024, not announcing winners in fields such as entrepreneurship, Torah, and sciences, but instead only giving two awards to people related to the Oct. 7 attack.
The decision caused backlash, with critics saying Kisch did it for political reasons. A lawsuit on the matter reached the High Court of Justice. The court has given Kisch until Thursday to respond to the petition for why the award should be scaled down this year and not also given to the traditional fields as well.
A ceremony to honor “Team Elhanan” will take place on Israel’s Independence Day, scheduled this year for May 14.
