We never forget the place where we are born.
This is exactly what Guy Simchi, born in Kibbutz Re'im, discovered
as he found himself navigating the same paths of his birthplace in order to save his life and the lives of his friends who had escaped from the Nova festival on October 7th right near the kibbutz.
When he was six, Guy and his family moved to Gedera, but he, a kind child beloved by his friends, stayed in touch with many of the children from Re'im all those years.
Guy's father was a combat commander in the IDF and spent years fighting for Israel, and when he left the army, he became a commander in the fire and rescue services. It was therefore no surprise, coming from a family of people who fought for the State of Israel, that Guy became a combat soldier in the Paratrooper Commando unit.
Guy ended up at Nova during a leave from the army, to rest and enjoy himself with his beloved friends. When the firing began, Guy didn't lose control. Many of the partygoers crowded around him because they realized he knew what he was doing. And he did. He remembered the paths that led to the first home he grew up in, in Kibbutz Re'im.
"Run after me" whispered Guy, and they did exactly that until they reached the apartment in Kibbutz Re'im, where they sheltered. Guy didn't remain with them in the safe room. He went out to fight, alongside his friend Hadar, who was armed.
The others shouted at him to get back inside, but Guy told Hadar: "There's no way I'm leaving you on your own. We'll fight all the terrorists together!" Guy and Hadar came under heavy fire as they blocked access to the safe room with their bodies. They took down terrorist after terrorist until Guy was killed in battle, on the soil of the kibbutz which had been his first home ever.
Guy, the boy who became a fighter, who remembered the paths of his childhood, was above all, a true friend and a true hero.
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