Dror Or, former hostage, laid to rest in Kibbutz Be'eri

Last week, the remains of Dror Or were handed over to Israel by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas through the Red Cross. On Sunday, numerous residents of Eshkol Municipality gathered at the Reim and Beeri junctions to accompany Dror Or, the third-to-last hostage, on his final journey home.

"After more than two years of suffering and sorrow, Dror Or, the last hostage taken from Kibbutz Beeri during the tragic attack, has finally been laid to rest in the soil of the kibbutz he cherished," President Isaac Herzog said during the funeral ceremony.

The devastating attack by Hamas in Kibbutz Beeri, near the Israeli-Gaza border, occurred on October 14, 2023. The assault left deep scars on the community and claimed multiple lives.

Remembering Dror Or

Dror Or, 48, was born in Kibbutz Reim and later moved to Tel Aviv to pursue culinary studies. He met his wife, Yonat, originally from Beeri, and the couple eventually returned to her hometown. Or initially worked in the kibbutz printing house before fully dedicating himself to the culinary arts.

He became a renowned chef and cheesemaker at Beeri Dairy, a prize-winning artisanal cheese operation. His formal education included Tadmor Culinary, Hotelier, and Tourism School, as well as specialized cheesemaking studies in France and Italy.

Or had a passion for travel, basketball, and yoga, becoming a certified yoga instructor and practicing for two decades. He was tragically killed on October 7, along with his two children, Noam, 17, and Alma, 13, who were taken hostage. His wife, Yonat Or, was also killed during the attack, though her remains were not taken hostage.

Author: Sophia Brooks