The Sunshine That Lit Up Everyone – Shahaf Nissani, of Blessed Memory

To mark three years since the events of October 7, we are giving space to the personal stories that have remained with Electra FM employees and their families. Stories of remembrance, loss, love, and people who left a lasting mark on the lives of those closest to them. One of these is the story of Dolev Nissani, an electrician at the Intel Kiryat Gat site in the Maintenance Division of Electra FM, who has carried with him ever since that day the story of his younger sister, Staff Sergeant Shahaf Nissani, of blessed memory, a 20-year-old from Ashkelon who served as a lookout soldier at the Nahal Oz base and was murdered on October 7.

Those who knew Shahaf remember a young woman with a mane of curls, a big heart, and a deep love for the people around her. “She was sunshine in every sense of the word,” Dolev says. “She was full of kindness and compassion, a true homebody, an outstanding student, loved by her friends, and always there for them whenever they needed advice, support, or simply someone to laugh with.”

According to Dolev, Shahaf was someone who always thought of others before herself. That was the way she lived her life, and she remained true to it until the very last moment.

For two years, Shahaf served as a lookout soldier at the Nahal Oz base. On Friday evening, October 6, 2023, she celebrated her final Shabbat on the base with her friends, just days before she was due to complete her military service. She called their shared meal The Last Disco.

The following morning, Saturday, October 7, at 6:30 a.m., Shahaf called her mother in panic. “Terrorists have infiltrated my base. They’re shooting at us,” she said. Later, she said goodbye to her family: “I love you. Thank you for everything. Stay the way you are, a loving and close-knit family.”

For five days, Shahaf was listed as missing. On Wednesday, October 11, the day she was supposed to be discharged from the IDF, two officers arrived at the family home and informed them of her death.

But for her family, Shahaf’s memory does not begin and end with that morning.

Shahaf was born on what her family calls the perfect date, 03.03.03. She was the princess of the family, always smiling, always seeing the good in everything, a true and deeply loved friend. She was generous and compassionate, excelled in her studies, loved home-cooked food and going out to restaurants, and above all, family was one of the most important things in her life.

“Shahaf was our curly-haired princess, incredibly funny, with an infectious laugh that drew everyone in,” Dolev says. “She always greeted people with warmth and was endlessly giving.”

Just four days before she was due to complete her military service, Shahaf read a letter aloud to her friends at a party. In it, she wrote:
“The girls are everything. Your friends, your family, your partner and your psychologist, in the best possible way. Appreciate the girls around you. Try to be on good terms with all of them, or at least most of them. Be there for one another, not because you expect something in return, but genuinely, from the heart.”

Those words continue to reflect the way her family remembers her today, through friendship, love, and generosity.

Shahaf is commemorated in many ways that continue to carry her spirit forward. Her family distributes memorial candles, prayer booklets, Tefilat HaDerech cards, stickers, and car magnets. In Ashkelon, two protected shelters feature portraits of Shahaf, and a square opposite the family home has been dedicated in her name, alongside the names of other fallen residents of the city.

An Israeli company specializing in advanced security solutions for border and facility protection in government markets established the “Shahaf Laboratory”, which the family describes as a direct continuation of her path, her spirit, and everything she represented in life.

The Israeli band HaPil HaKachol wrote the song “Queen of the Sun” in Shahaf’s memory.

Her parents also established a library in the synagogue at the Pega outpost in the Gaza border area, which was damaged that Saturday. As part of her role, Shahaf had been responsible for monitoring that outpost.The family also runs an Instagram page in her memory, remember_shahaf_nissani, where they share posts, stories, and additional commemorative initiatives dedicated to Shahaf.

“Everyone loved her. How could they not?” Dolev says. “Our Shahaf was a beautiful soul, and the world missed out on everything she still had to give.”

Three years have passed since October 7, and the longing continues to accompany the family every day.
“Three years have passed filled with pain and endless longing that only grows stronger with each passing day,” Dolev wrote. “Who said time makes it easier?”