“The world should know about people who are good people, and brave.”
Rabbi Yonatan Cohen of Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley spoke with heavy grief in his voice about his 19-year-old nephew, Yoav Malayev, who was killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday.
Malayev, a second lieutenant in the 7th Armored Brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces, was on duty at the Zikim base near the border with Gaza. The family was told Malayev died when the base came under attack, as well as the basic outline of what occurred.
“When the attacks started, he realized there was only one woman soldier standing guard,” Cohen said.
Malayev helped split up the group of soldiers he was with for defense and then ran to join the gate guard.
“He acted like a commander. He acted like an adult,” Cohen said through tears.
The two were confronted by 10 attackers.
“He fought them,” Cohen said. “He protected the other soldier with his body and killed four of the 10 before he was overcome by them.”
Cohen said that strength and heart was typical of Malayev.
“Yoav did Yoav,” he said. “Of course he did.”
Cohen described Malayev as a strong, persistent young man who retained a childlike innocence even as he grew.
“He was a rare combination,” Cohen said. “He was a very quiet and internal person with tremendous resilience.”
His mother, Maya Cohen-Malayev, is Cohen’s sister. She and her husband, Alex Malayev, have three other children, ages 16, 12 and 7.
Cohen’s parents were visiting the Bay Area at the time of the attack, and he praised Marco Sermoneta, the S.F.-based Israeli consul general of the Pacific Northwest, for helping them return to Israel in time for the funeral.
Beth Israel, a Modern Orthodox congregation, held a community vigil Monday evening for Israel and also honored Malayev. Cohen has since left to be with his grieving family in Israel.
He also called on Bay Area Jews to come together, especially unaffiliated Jews. Whether it’s going to a synagogue or local gathering, he urged Jews to draw on the incredible power of community.
“Don’t be alone in this moment,” he said.