Friend Remembers 30 Years of Deep Bond with Slain Israeli

Shmulik Yisrael is mourning the loss of his close friend, Natanel (Nati) Kron, who was killed recently. Yisrael received the devastating news on the eve of Yom Kippur, just before the holy day began, a moment that brought back 30 years of shared memories.

Their friendship began in their youth at a yeshiva in Ma'alot and continued through their military service in the Paratroopers Brigade, starting in March 1997. They trained together and later served in Hebron, describing themselves as a "pair" who went through many significant periods together. They supported each other through their single years, discussing personal decisions, and stood by each other as witnesses at their respective weddings. Yisrael recalled Kron as a "man of truth, a man of kindness, with a huge heart" whom everyone loved.

The two friends also shared an educational mission in Chicago, where Yisrael witnessed Kron's quiet charisma, drawing people to him. They traveled together across the United States and later embarked on an extensive trek through Peru and Bolivia, celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur far from home. During this trip, Kron noticed a missing Torah ark curtain at a Chabad house and immediately suggested they donate one, which they did together.

Even as their families grew, their bond remained strong. They took annual trips to the north of Israel with their children. Yisrael highlighted Kron's deep respect for his parents and his ability to live a full life, never wasting a moment. Yisrael is now left to say goodbye to the friend who was a constant presence throughout his adult life, remembering him as a man who lived life to the fullest.