‘There’s no joy’: Israeli man trying to keep niece’s legacy alive

Harel Lapidot said his 22-year-old niece Tifherert was like a daughter to him.

They had a dream to visit Regina — where Harel was born — together.

As Harel holds a picture of his niece, tears fill his eyes.

“I couldn’t imagine that I’ll be here alone with Tifherert’s picture, but without her with me,” he said.

Harel holds the memories of his niece dear to his heart. He said it is difficult for his family to find joy without Tifherert. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

His niece was killed following the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack by Hamas, which left more than 1,200 Israeli civilians dead.

After the attack, Harel said his family didn’t know if she was okay for close to two-weeks. In a previous interview, he said this feeling was a nightmare. 

His family was told to find a picture of Tifherert for identification purposes, but without a smile.

“We looked for more than 300 photos,” he said. “We couldn’t find even one of those photos without a glorious smile.”

His niece’s smile is something he will never forget.

“Every person that saw her had to smile back,” Harel said. “You couldn’t resist her smile.”

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Harel said his niece was full of happiness and spent countless hours volunteering around the world for children with special needs.

‘Those are two of the main things of Tifherert’s character that tells her story of lighting the world with a big smile and happiness, not just just happiness, but taking the time for more than two years in the national services,” he said.

According to Harel, during the Nova music festival Tifherert escaped on a truck, but went back when she realized her friend wasn’t accounted for.

“She said, ‘If there’s even one per cent chance that I’ll be able to help my friend, I’ll take the chance,'” Harel said of his niece.

“Unfortunately, they were both shot dead. But it wasn’t a matter of bad luck, that was Tifherert, friendship and being there for another human being was her legacy and a way of her way of life.”

Harel shows a photo of when he visited a memorial for his niece in Israel after the October 7 attack. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Harel and his family hope to keep the legacy of Tifherert alive.

“That’s the way we want to go, in her way of lightning the world with the light of love, happiness and smile, but also the light of justice,” he said.

But mourning a loved one is a long and difficult journey.

“There’s no joy,” Harel said. “As matter of fact, it’s getting worse and worse, understanding that she won’t be here with us, that she won’t dance again, it’s just unbearable.”

Harel cherishes the memories he has of Tifherert  and holds them close to his heart.

“I can still feel her small hand when I used to take her from the kindergarten,” he said. “I miss her hug, her smile, a smile that made everybody smile back. The look when I looked in her eyes, I saw lots of love for me and for the other members of the family. I miss it a lot.”

He said Tifherert’s story is inspiring other young people to volunteer and help others. He hopes this legacy continues.

The family hosted an event at the Beth Jacob Synagogue to share Tifherert’s story.