As South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein wrote in his condolence statement to the Kay family, “Eli, their son, was a hero of the Jewish people who made his aliya and served in the IDF – as their other sons – and made us all so proud. “

Noting that “the Kay family have been for generations pillars of the South African Jewish community – examples of kindness, contribution and faith,” wrote Goldstein: “They are a family renowned and appreciated for making this world better because of their good deeds, and Eli lived with the same spirit and values.

Kay – the grandson of Rabbi Shlomo Levin, the rabbi of the South Hampstead United Synagogue in London, and son of Avi and Devorah Kay – moved alone to Israel from Johannesburg in 2016 to study at the Chabad yeshiva in Kiryat Gat. A year later, he volunteered to serve in the IDF Parachute Brigade as part of Machal. Although he was wounded several times in the IDF, he continued with courage and determination, completing his military service in August 2019.

After deciding to officially make aliyah, he volunteered for a year at Kibbutz Nirim on the Gaza border and recently worked as a guide for the Western Wall Heritage Foundation in Jerusalem.

Eli Kay, the 26-year-old South African oleh who was killed in a Hamas terrorist attack in the Old City of Jerusalem. (credit: courtesy)

“It lifted everyone’s morale,” the Western Wall Heritage Foundation said. “He carried out his sacred work with dedication and loyalty. “

Kay served as a role model for his family who followed in his footsteps. Her older and younger brothers came to Israel, made their aliya and served as “lone soldiers” in the IDF, while her parents and younger sister made their aliya last December, settling in Modi ‘. in.

Kay was planning to marry his fiancee, Jen Schiff, in just a few months. In a heartfelt tribute, Schiff told reporters on Sunday night: “I just thought it was important to share how much Eli loved this country and how he came here on his own and fought for this country. He had a bunch of injuries in the military and yet continued to go through all the training and have his own soldiers.

“He is the strongest person I have ever known, emotionally and physically … He always treated everyone with love and respect. I know when it happened today it never happened. not feeling alone and that he knew that to be in this country and to do what he did and who he was, to give everything he had to the people around him and to the people of Israel.

According to Telfed, the South African Zionist Federation, Kay was the 10th South African immigrant to be killed in a terrorist attack in Israel since the state’s inception. Telfed also reports that South African aliyah is at its highest level in 25 years, with more than 440 immigrants arriving in Israel this year.

Eli Kay’s death should not deter Jews in South Africa and around the world from making aliya, nor should it prevent like-minded young men and women like him from serving as lone soldiers in the IDF. Rather, Kay’s life should inspire others to follow her shining example.

One of his brothers, Kasriel, pointed out that Eli was the first member of the Kay family to come to Israel “and gave their all for this country,” adding that the family plans to build something in his memory – ” so we will truly remember him forever.

Eli Kay was a passionate Zionist, a devoted Jew and a compassionate human being who gave himself up for others and for Israel. He was an example of the incredible contributions the olim (new immigrants) make to this country and how they sometimes pay with their lives to save and protect it.

We send our deepest condolences to his family; we salute him for being a living example of a beautiful soul, an exceptional immigrant and a true mensch.