Tragic News: Vladislav Bongart, the father of Sofia (Muriel) Bongart, z"l, who was murdered by Hamas as she fled the Nova festival on October 7th, has taken his own life. Sofia (Muriel) Bongart was just 21 years old. She went to the Supernova music festival to dance, to celebrate life. But on October 7, Hamas terrorists stole that life from her in the most brutal way imaginable. She was with her best friend, Liraz Nisan, when the attack started. The two ran for their lives and found shelter in a roadside bomb shelter near Kibbutz Be’eri. That shelter, meant to be a place of protection, became a death trap. Hamas terrorists threw grenades inside and gunned down everyone—Sofia, Liraz, and at least seven others, including Raz Mizrahi and Kim Dukarker. Sofia’s last message to her mother, Anna, came at 8 a.m. She told her family she loved them, that she was blessed to have them as parents. That was the last they heard from her. Days later, her body was identified, and on October 10, she was laid to rest in Carmiel. Sofia’s story is more than just a tragedy. She was a young woman full of life, with dreams, with a future. Her friend, Alina Yankovich, described her as someone whose smile never left her face. October 7th not only claimed Sofia’s life, but her father’s too. The unimaginable grief and mental health toll on the families of Hamas’ victims is beyond words. These families will never be the same, and they will carry the scars of that day forever. May Vladislav and Sofia’s memory be a blessing.
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