Eden, the youngest daughter of Hannah and Avi, was born on Yom Kippur Eve, 9 Tishrei 5761 (8.10.2000), to a family that had immigrated to Israel a few years earlier. A younger sister to Gila and Sharon.She grew up and was educated in Ramat Gan, at the "Ramat Chen" elementary school and the "Blich" municipal high school. She was characterized by a captivating joy for life, enormous sensitivity to others and free love, and everywhere she stood out with her social skills, concern and care for those around her and her wonderful ability to unite everyone and integrate even those who had difficulty connecting. "I remember you in sixth grade," wrote a childhood friend, "a sweet and smiling girl who spreads light around her."
Eden only wanted to dance her life, and from a young age was drawn to music and movement. During elementary school, she learned to play the trombone, and she demonstrated her dancing skills even then, on the Independence Day stage in the city. In her youth, she fell in love with hip-hop and attended dance classes held at the Kfar Maccabiah Sports Center.
Upon her enlistment in the IDF in 2018, she was assigned to the Human Resources Division. She served in the Finance Unit, at the retirement center for senior officers. In the army, she was also a center of love and giving, was called a "giant sun," and acquired additional friends and admirers.
After her release, Eden began studying at a pre-academic preparatory school, while simultaneously working as a waitress at the "2C" restaurant on the roof of the Azrieli building in Tel Aviv. At the restaurant, she met a new circle of friends, and immediately became one of the group. "In 2022, an angel came to us," the friends wrote, "Eden - the most beautiful, funniest, smiley girl. We hadn't even met you yet and we already fell in love with you." Between work and school, Eden never missed a party or opportunity to have fun and have fun, and established the weekend routine at the beach – at Trumpeldor Beach: “‘Just Trumpy,’ you said, you didn’t let us go to another beach. You had the most fun there, you forced us all to come, without exception, so that you wouldn’t miss anyone.”
In October 2022, her father died of cancer and Eden, who was very attached to him, grieved and had a hard time recovering. “My father,” she wrote, “a week has passed since you left and left us a huge hole in our hearts. You were the best father in the world, I couldn’t ask for anything better than you! You were always by my side, you hugged, loved, cared and didn’t take anything away from me. You were the strongest in the world. You fought until the last minute for your daughters and didn’t give up. Thank you for the twenty-two years that I was able to enjoy you. I love you with all my heart and soul.”
Slowly, with the help of her family – her mother, her beloved sisters and nephews – and of course the friends and acquaintances who surrounded her, she regained her composure. After successfully completing her preparatory studies, she enrolled in undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Business Administration at the College of Management in Rishon LeZion and was filled with anticipation and excitement for the start of her studies.
In September 2023, she flew with fifteen of her friends to a music festival in Athens, and the sparkle returned to her eyes. “Our paradise,” they wrote, “how happy you were in Athens. ‘Let’s sunbathe,’ you urged us, ‘Let’s go eat, let’s drink, let’s dance.’ You were the happiest there.”
At the end of Sukkot 5774, a week before her father's anniversary and just before her twenty-third birthday, she traveled with three friends to the "Supernova" music festival - a large nature party that took place near Kibbutz Re'im. She danced all night to the music she loved so much, shone under the stars, and enjoyed the atmosphere of "togetherness" with about three thousand party participants.
On Saturday, 22nd of Tishrei, Simchat Torah 5774, October 7, 2023, at 6:30 in the morning, the Hamas terrorist organization launched a surprise attack on Israel. Under the cover of massive rocket and missile fire from the Gaza Strip into large areas of the country, thousands of terrorists penetrated through the breached border fence, from the sea and the air, and began a murderous attack on the settlements surrounding Gaza - kibbutzim and moshavim and on the nearby towns of Sderot, Ofakim and Netivot; on the outskirts of the nature party near Kibbutz Re'im and Nimr; on IDF bases and on passers-by on the roads in the area. The terrorists murdered about eight hundred civilians of all ages – in their homes, in their cars and while they were partying, after committing serious crimes there, including rape and abuse; they kidnapped hundreds of people to the Gaza Strip; they destroyed, looted and set fire to houses and property. More than three hundred soldiers, police officers and members of the local emergency squads fell before the security forces were able to take control of the area.
That morning, war began.
When the attack began, Eden corresponded with her family and told them about what was happening. Since, like many of the party participants, she and her friends believed that it was a missile attack that would soon end, they got into the car out of instinct. However, the terrorists had already arrived at the party area, started shooting in all directions, and the car began to catch fire. Stunned, the four managed to get out of the burning car and ran to the shelter at the entrance to the Re'im parking lot. Eden managed to call family and friends, to consult and ask for help. Her sister Sharon returned: "I received a call that I will never get out of my head - a frightened voice, the whistles of gunshots and a fear that will remain forever."
At 09:38, contact with Eden was lost. At first, she was considered missing, and after five days of anxiety and terror, her body was identified. Her three friends were murdered with her - Nir Madmon, who are Turgeman and Shani Ben Ami, and about three hundred and seventy others without the "Nova" party. About forty of the party participants were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip.
Eden Abdulaev (Rakhmin) was murdered at the "Nova" festival near Kibbutz Reim on Tishrei 22, 5744 (07.10.2023), the day before her twenty-third birthday. She was laid to rest in the "Yarkon" cemetery in Petah Tikva and buried next to her father, exactly one year after his death. She left behind a mother and two sisters.
Her lovers carved a heart on her tombstone, and underneath it the inscription "If there is a heaven," as well as the words: "You disappeared suddenly and we were left with deep pain. Our heaven with a captivating smile and a huge heart. You will remain in our hearts forever!"
Her sister Sharon paid tribute to her: "Eden, our little sister, the light and air for our breathing. For the first time in my life – I could not help you. ... Your name has so much meaning; Eden means good and calm, like in heaven. ... You were a child full of love, you knew how to love, you knew how to live, and you loved what life gave you. Watch over us from heaven and give kisses to dad."
Gila's eulogy, her older sister: "Eden, you were one of my children that I raised. You called me mother, and now I have lost a child, a sister to the children. Half of me is gone. ... Your last sentence was: 'Show Abiel my picture, so that he will not forget me.' My love, we will remember you forever and you live in our hearts. Love forever."
Yael, her close friend from childhood, wrote: "Eden, my beauty, I wanted to tell you thank you for always being there for me, for being a part of my journey. Thank you for making me smile, believing in myself, getting up when it's hard, and just continuing. Thank you for the privilege of knowing you and being close to you. Watch over us from above, love you and miss you."
Her best friend, Liri, paid tribute to her: "Hey Sisi, my head can't digest and my heart can't contain... We decided to go sometime this year to celebrate a decade of friendship and start a new decade, unfortunately that won't happen anymore. And all that's left to say is thank you for the time I was lucky enough to be by your side, thank you for being lucky enough to be your best friend because it really is winning the lottery! Thank you for always being there for me, to advise, help or just listen. Thank you for taking up such a big part of my life, thank you for every second... We had a special connection, from the soul, understanding each other just by looking into each other's eyes, knowing each other as if we came out of the womb together...
There are no words that can explain the amount of love and longing I have right now. Watch over me from above and I will always remember and immortalize you down here."
Lior wrote: "Our Eden, we will always remember you - your beautiful smile, your hair, the look that always captivated everyone, your positivity, your witty phrases and funny outings. You entered our hearts and will never leave. May your memory be blessed."
Eden was commemorated in a variety of ways and actions. Her friends held a "weekend of remembrance" in her name on Trumpeldor Beach in Tel Aviv. A page was opened on the social network "Instagram" in her memory under the auspices of her sisters and friends Roi Ozer and Liri. Roi also organizes many commemorative activities, including illustrating Eden's image on stickers and key chains that are distributed to soldiers. Her lovers are working hard to continue her commemoration and have launched a crowdfunding project for this purpose. They wrote: "Eden always gave all the strength and love, and this is what she would have wanted us to do. Everywhere we go, we will tell who you were and your story."
Yael, her close friend from childhood, wrote: "Eden, my beauty, I wanted to tell you thank you for always being there for me, for being a part of my journey. Thank you for making me smile, believing in myself, getting up when it's hard, and just continuing. Thank you for the privilege of knowing you and being close to you. Watch over us from above, love you and miss you."
Her best friend, Liri, paid tribute to her: "Hey Sisi, my head can't digest and my heart can't contain... We decided to go sometime this year to celebrate a decade of friendship and start a new decade, unfortunately that won't happen anymore. And all that's left to say is thank you for the time I was lucky enough to be by your side, thank you for being lucky enough to be your best friend because it really is winning the lottery! Thank you for always being there for me, to advise, help or just listen. Thank you for taking up such a big part of my life, thank you for every second... We had a special connection, from the soul, understanding each other just by looking into each other's eyes, knowing each other as if we came out of the womb together...
There are no words that can explain the amount of love and longing I have right now. Watch over me from above and I will always remember and immortalize you down here."
Lior wrote: "Our Eden, we will always remember you - your beautiful smile, your hair, the look that always captivated everyone, your positivity, your witty phrases and funny outings. You entered our hearts and will never leave. May your memory be blessed."
Eden was commemorated in a variety of ways and actions. Her friends held a "weekend of remembrance" in her name on Trumpeldor Beach in Tel Aviv. A page was opened on the social network "Instagram" in her memory under the auspices of her sisters and friends Roi Ozer and Liri. Roi also organizes many commemorative activities, including illustrating Eden's image on stickers and key chains that are distributed to soldiers. Her lovers are working hard to continue her commemoration and have launched a crowdfunding project for this purpose. They wrote: "Eden always gave all the strength and love, and this is what she would have wanted us to do. Everywhere we go, we will tell who you were and your story."