The family of Meny Godard — murdered by Hamas in the October 7th Massacre and whose body remains in Gaza — marks what would have been his 75th birthday with a heartfelt plea to bring him and all the remaining hostages home.
Meny Godard, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather from Kibbutz Be’eri, was meant to celebrate his 75th birthday this Friday. Instead, his family is mourning — and still waiting — as his body remains in Gaza, abducted by Hamas terrorists after he was murdered alongside his wife, Ayelet, during the October 7th Massacre.
In a moving tribute, the family wrote:
“Our beloved father — a bittersweet happy birthday. We love you and miss you every moment. Thank you for the privilege of seeing the good in everything, for the laughter, the hugs, and thank you for being our father.”
A Life of Laughter, Love, and Generosity
The family described how Meny would have begun the day:
- Swimming 75 laps — plus one more for the year ahead
- Gathering in his orchard with children and grandchildren, surrounded by love
“What characterized him most of all was his kind heart — generous, big-hearted, and boundless in his giving. And the laughter — all day long he would share jokes with friends, laughing until their stomachs hurt,” they said.
A Plea for Closure and Action
With no grave to visit, the family issued a national call:
“Dad, we’re waiting for the circle to close — how do you celebrate a birthday when we have no grave to visit? From the people of Israel, we ask — be with us. Stop everything with us this Sunday. Stand with us in this deeply moral demand to bring Dad and everyone else home.”
Their message was both personal and urgent:
“We are demanding the most basic thing in the world: to bury our murdered loved ones, to bring those still alive out of hell — to save lives. ‘Whoever saves one life, it is as if he saved an entire world.’ We need you today, right now — help us save lives. This is our last chance.”
