Jonathan (Joni) Zeidman

Jonathan (Jonny), the son of Orit and Daniel Zeidman, was born in Tel Aviv on the 23rd of Av, 5757 (August 26, 1997). He was the younger brother of Liron. He grew up and was educated in Tel Aviv, attending the Ussishkin Elementary School and later "Ironi D" High School in the city. During high school, he was a member of the "Hahoresh" tribe of the Israeli Scouts movement.

At just four years old, he went to his first football match with his father, and from that moment became a devoted fan of Maccabi Tel Aviv. He and his friends held season tickets in Gate 11 at Bloomfield Stadium, and he attended every match. Alongside his love for the local team, he was also a fan of Real Madrid and a passionate follower of international football. He would travel abroad to attend matches around the world, including visiting Qatar during the 2022 World Cup.

During his military service, he served in the International Cooperation Division, responsible for regional and international military collaborations. After his discharge, he was accepted into the prestigious PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) honors program at Tel Aviv University. He was an outstanding student, and his classmates attest that he achieved his impressive accomplishments with minimal effort.

His family describes him as "everything all at once": a brilliant young man, called a genius by his friends — curious and knowledgeable, with a wide range of interests including cinema, art, music, and philosophy, demonstrating deep understanding in these and many other fields.

At the same time, he had a vibrant, captivating personality — full of charisma, joy for life, and genuine care for others. He lit up every room he entered and won over even the most reserved or indifferent people. Beyond all this, he was a true friend, always offering a listening ear and a supportive shoulder, constantly giving of himself. Among his volunteer activities, he took part in the "Universita" project of the "Achim LaSemel" organization, where he tutored young players from Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth departments and children who were fans of the team.

According to his friends and family, the last period of his life was especially good. He had a partner he deeply loved, had been accepted into a respected job, and was full of dreams for the future. Among his plans were pursuing a master's degree at Harvard University and working in major global funds and banks — everyone who knew him saw a bright future ahead.

On Saturday, the 22nd of Tishrei, Simchat Torah 5784 (October 7, 2023), Jonathan and two of his friends, Liam Sherem and Ilay Bar'am, arrived at the "Supernova" music festival near Kibbutz Re'im at around 6:30 a.m. They had just begun settling in when the first barrage of rockets was fired. They immediately decided to leave and return to Tel Aviv. Because they were among the first to leave, they managed to exit the area before terrorists spread across the roads. After about forty minutes of driving, near Sapir College, they encountered an ambush. Terrorists disguised as soldiers opened fire on their vehicle. Jonathan and his friends were murdered.

Jonathan was laid to rest at "Menuchat Olam" Cemetery in Netanya. He is survived by his parents, his sister, and dozens of loving family members and friends.

The "Achim LaSemel" organization, where Jonathan volunteered, established a scholarship project in his memory, inviting Maccabi fans who are students to provide tutoring in exchange for scholarships. Israel's Sports Channel aired a special program in memory of those who fell and were murdered in the October 7 attack, in which two of Jonathan's friends were interviewed, and musician Peter Roth performed in his memory the song "How Much I Miss You," which he wrote and composed.