JERUSALEM (VINnews) — At the cemetery in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, Tal Chaimi was laid to rest on Wednesday, after his body was returned from the Gaza Strip last night.Chaimi was a member of the local emergency response team and was killed in battle at the age of 41. He is survived by his wife, Ella, and their four children, including baby Lotan, whom he never met.
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In a heartbreaking eulogy, Ella Chaimi spoke about the recording she played for her husband, a message from their young son, and about their final farewell.
“I planned this day so much. I waited for it,” she said. “This is the ending you deserve, Tal. Nothing that happened to you in the past two years reflects who you were.”
“I’m happy for us that you’ve returned,” Ela said. “But even more so, I’m happy for you. You can rest now. You are safe. Nothing can ever harm you again. I’m with you. We won’t let anyone in the world hurt you.”
“I said goodbye to you today at noon. You came back to us dressed and whole. I touched every part of you. You’d be pleased to know that even the shirt from Unit 9255 was with you and it survived.”
Tal Haimi HYD
Ella with Lotan, the child Tal never met
She went on to describe the two years of separation since Tal was kidnapped:
“I told you everything that happened to us since we parted, about each of the kids. There’s one child you didn’t get to meet, but he already knows you very well. I played you a recording of him saying ‘Daddy’ and giggling. I hope you managed to hear it.
I never imagined I would give birth to and raise a baby without you. But then I look at him, and everything feels a bit more possible.
These children are your greatest success. Each one carries a piece of you. They are so proud of you, but they also miss you deeply.”
Ella also spoke about the deep friendship between Tal and Lior Rodiaf, his fellow soldier who remains captive:
“You and Lior had a special bond, despite the age difference. Lior was like a mentor to you, and you were the curious student. This year we learned in detail about the battle you fought. You and the other members of the response team ran toward danger, did everything to protect and defend. We will forever be grateful. People will say today that you were brave and heroic, but for you it was just another mission.”
She recalled his simplicity and modesty, seen in the everyday moments:
“We’re used to your small, simple ways that had nothing to do with heroism. Like lying on the couch at night arguing with me about how important it is to relax a little; washing the dishes half-asleep and making sandwiches for the next morning.
When we went to restaurants, you never ordered — you counted on the kids’ leftovers. On trips, if something was missing from the gear, you never said a word, you always followed the checklist.”
“The longing for you sneaks in almost every moment,” she continued. “When a door squeaks, or a lightbulb burns out, my instinct is that you’ll take care of it. At big events, I suddenly don’t know what to do; we look for replacements, always a few, because one will never be enough.
Tal, I was proud to be your wife, and I’m proud to be your widow. Thank you for 22 shared years. You were a gold standard for what quality means in this world.
When we needed approval for something in the kibbutz, they’d only approve it if we mentioned your name.”
In her eulogy, Ella announced the family’s decision to return to their kibbutz, the place from which Tal was kidnapped and where he fell:
“I hereby declare that the Chaimi family has returned home to Nir Yitzhak,” she said, her voice trembling. “That’s what you would have wanted if you could. That’s what the children demanded. Thank you, Nir, Einav, Udi, and Lotan, you are my entire world, and together we are the best in the world, just as Dad asked me while he was alive.
Thirteen more families deserve to have their loved ones returned home, just like us. We won’t give up and we won’t stop demanding until everyone is brought back.”
Ella ended her words with a call for unity:
“Although you’ve come back, Tal, it will take time until our kibbutz and our beloved country recover. We’ve suffered enough. We’re tired of fighting among ourselves.
I turn to our leaders and to their representative here today – make this place better. Make it safe to live here. After everyone returns home, our next struggle must be to reunite the nation.”
Among those attending the funeral were former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Southern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, and Education Minister Yoav Kisch, representing the government.
