{"id":10944,"date":"2026-01-20T02:09:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T00:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T02:32:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T00:32:33","slug":"major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon","status":"publish","type":"remmember_page","link":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/","title":{"rendered":"Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon"},"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[],"class_list":["post-10944","remmember_page","type-remmember_page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon - remember.bio<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"he_IL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon - remember.bio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"remember.bio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-20T00:32:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/\",\"name\":\"Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon - remember.bio\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-20T00:09:14+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-20T00:32:33+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"he-IL\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Remember Pages\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/\",\"name\":\"remember.bio\",\"description\":\"Time to Remember\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"he-IL\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon - remember.bio","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/","og_locale":"he_IL","og_type":"article","og_title":"Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon - remember.bio","og_url":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/","og_site_name":"remember.bio","article_modified_time":"2026-01-20T00:32:33+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/","url":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/","name":"Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon - remember.bio","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-01-20T00:09:14+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-20T00:32:33+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"he-IL","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/major-elhanan-meir-kalmanzon\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Remember Pages","item":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/remember_pages\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/#website","url":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/","name":"remember.bio","description":"Time to Remember","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"he-IL"}]}},"acf":{"full_name_of_the_deceased":"Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon","a_few_words_about_the_deceased":"a humble and courageous leader, a devoted family man, a protector and lifesaver, who acted with responsibility, values, and quiet heroism.","main_image_of_the_deceased_url":"https:\/\/remember-app-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/1768868785167_6405ccb28322f4ac0dfe89e9_undefined","about_description":"Major Elhanan Meir Kalmanzon, of blessed memory, was a man of deep mission, quiet responsibility, and extraordinary courage. A devoted husband to Shlomit and a loving father of five, his family was the center of his life, his source of strength, and the reason behind every choice he made. His home was filled with warmth, values, and personal example, and his path in life was one of humility, service, and action.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nElhanan dedicated his adult life to the security of the State of Israel. Beginning as a combat soldier, he chose a path of frontline service and continued to serve as the security coordinator (Ravshatz) of the community of Otniel, where he lived and was deeply woven into the fabric of communal life. He commanded the local emergency response team, trained volunteers, and was always the first to respond and the last to leave. Over the years, he served extensively in the reserves, and in recent years held a significant and sensitive position in the Mossad\u2014one that required professionalism, discretion, and quiet bravery, without seeking recognition.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nOn October 7, 2023, following the early-morning activation of the local response team, Elhanan immediately grasped the gravity of the moment. Throughout the day, he organized and commanded the defense of Otniel and coordinated the surrounding forces. Only after ensuring that the community was secure and its residents protected did he make a profound moral decision: to head south to the heart of the fighting, despite having received orders to report to his regular reserve unit in Judea and Samaria.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIn a brief message to his brother Menachem, he wrote:<br \/>\n\u201cI\u2019m packing and heading south.\u201d<br \/>\nMenachem joined him without hesitation, and together they set out on a journey from which Elhanan would not return.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nUpon arriving at Kibbutz Be\u2019eri, they were confronted with scenes of unimaginable devastation\u2014burning homes, chaos, and terrorists still moving through the area. Elhanan immediately understood that there was no time to hesitate. Civilians had to be rescued\u2014families trapped in their homes had to be brought out, and lives had to be saved. He and Menachem located an armored \u201cDavid\u201d jeep, designed for four fighters, and began a relentless rescue mission under fire.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAt first, the rescues were carried out in response to desperate pleas from residents searching for their loved ones. As night fell, the operation became increasingly organized: lists were made, names recorded, and order imposed on the chaos. The residents of Be\u2019eri would later call the team \u201cGame Changers,\u201d as until their arrival, no structured evacuation efforts had taken place. Late that night, their nephew, Itiel Zohar, joined them, and together the three continued an extraordinary mission of courage, ingenuity, and humanity.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nOver the course of approximately sixteen and a half consecutive hours, the team rescued around one hundred residents of Kibbutz Be\u2019eri\u2014children, adults, and the elderly\u2014bringing them out of the inferno to safety. On Sunday, after long hours without rest, they entered another house to check whether anyone remained inside. A terrorist who had been lying in wait opened fire. Elhanan, who entered first\u2014as he always did\u2014was struck by the gunfire and killed.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nFor their exceptional bravery and the saving of so many lives, the team was awarded the Israel Prize for Civilian Heroism. Following his death, Elhanan was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major. His legacy is commemorated in many ways\u2014within his community, in educational frameworks, and through a story of heroism that will be passed from generation to generation.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nElhanan Kalmanzon fell as he lived\u2014standing at the front, with an open heart, and through an act of saving others. He was a man of values, responsibility, and unconditional love for people and for his land.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nWe will remember him always.<br \/>\nMay his memory be a blessing.<br \/>\nA hero of Israel \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\ud83d\udd6f<br \/>\nMay we be worthy.<br \/>\n","about_country":"ISRAEL","about_parents":[{"name_of_parent":"Binyamin Yosef","link":false},{"name_of_parent":"Yocheved","link":false},{"name_of_parent":"","link":false},{"name_of_parent":"","link":false},{"name_of_parent":"","link":false}],"about__-_husband__wife":{"hasband_or_wife":"husband","husband_name":"Shlomit","wifes_name":"","link_to_the_spouses_remember_page":false},"about_children":[{"name_of_child":"Shai","link":false},{"name_of_child":"Tal","link":false},{"name_of_child":"Mevaser","link":false},{"name_of_child":"Keren","link":false},{"name_of_child":"Hod","link":false}],"about_brothers":[{"name_of_brother":" Rachel ","link":false},{"name_of_brother":"Avishag","link":false},{"name_of_brother":"Menachem","link":false},{"name_of_brother":"Avraham","link":false},{"name_of_brother":"Uri","link":false}],"about_birth_day":"27\/11\/1981","about_death_day":"04\/10\/2023","about_timeline":false,"stories_repeater":[{"text":"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/remember_elchanan_kalmanson\/<br \/>\n, of blessed memory, who was killed at Kibbutz Be\u2019eri while rescuing residents, October 8, 2023","telling_image":false,"telling_name":"An Instagram memorial page honoring Major Elhanan Kalmanzon","date":"","telling_image_url":"https:\/\/remember-app-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/1768868561760_6405ccb28322f4ac0dfe89e9_\u05e6\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd \u05de\u05e1\u05da 2026-01-19 192147.jpg"},{"text":"lmost a year has passed since my husband, Elhanan Kalmanzon, was killed at Kibbutz Be\u2019eri after rescuing\u2014together with his brother and nephew\u2014around one hundred residents of the kibbutz.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAlmost a year in which he is missing from every experience, thought, decision, conversation, tear, and moment of laughter.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nElhanan felt that he was part of the chain of generations of the Jewish people\u2014and that is how he lived his life.<br \/>\nOn Rosh Hashanah, after the prayers, he would come home and sing joyfully: \u201cYou have chosen us\u2026\u201d along with songs for a good new year.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIn his memory, I am attaching a file with these songs.<br \/>\nYou are invited to print them, sing, and remember the fallen heroes throughout the generations,<br \/>\nto hold the hostages still in captivity in your prayers and hope for their swift return,<br \/>\nand to think of the evacuees from the north and south who are far from their homes.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nWishing a good and blessed year to the entire People of Israel.","telling_image":false,"telling_name":"Words by Shlomit Kalmanzon, widow of Major Elhanan Kalmanzon","date":"","telling_image_url":"https:\/\/remember-app-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/1768869082135_6405ccb28322f4ac0dfe89e9_\u05e6\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd \u05de\u05e1\u05da 2026-01-19 192944.jpg"}],"gallery_items":[{"start_year":"","end_year":"","albums":[{"name_of_album":"","start_year_of_album":"","end_year_of_album":"","photos":false,"videos":false,"photos_urls":[{"url":"https:\/\/remember-app-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/1768868195844_6405ccb28322f4ac0dfe89e9_55902.webp"},{"url":"https:\/\/remember-app-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/1768868353836_6405ccb28322f4ac0dfe89e9_pg10-2-credit-courtesy-of-kalmanson-family.jpg"}],"videos_urls":false}]}],"places_list":[{"img":false,"name":"Trees from Be\u2019eri are planted in Be\u2019er Elhanan, Otniel.","address":"","desc":"","text":"","img_url":"https:\/\/remember-app-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/1768868900006_6405ccb28322f4ac0dfe89e9_\u05e6\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd \u05de\u05e1\u05da 2026-01-19 192752.jpg"}],"the_grave_images_gallery_urls":[{"img":"https:\/\/remember-app-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/1768868240940_6405ccb28322f4ac0dfe89e9_\u05ea\u05de\u05d5\u05e0\u05d4-\u05e9\u05dc-whatsapp-2023-11-12-\u05d1\u05e9\u05e2\u05d4-125032_6d7846c3.jpg"}],"the_name_of_a_cemetery":"Otniel Military Cemetery","the_grave_in_google_maps":{"address":"\u05e2\u05d5\u05ea\u05e0\u05d9\u05d0\u05dc","lat":31.4359708,"lng":35.027737699999996,"city":"","street_number":null,"street_name":"","country":""},"youtubevideos_repeater":[{"iframe":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0dVs2q4kS2I"},{"iframe":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/_tuABTnpwLM"},{"iframe":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/mTraIycPwPU"},{"iframe":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-g0v5wyKxZY"}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/remember_page\/10944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/remember_page"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/remmember_page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remember.bio\/he\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}