Shlomo Sharf Honors Slain Granddaughter With Legacy Project

Shlomo Sharf, former coach of the Israeli national football team and sports commentator, is establishing a legacy project to commemorate his granddaughter, May Na'im, who was murdered at the Nova music festival. The project aims to spread the joy and light that characterized May, who was killed near Kibbutz Be'eri after escaping the festival during the October 7th Hamas attack. Sharf described his profound grief and the ongoing struggle since the tragedy, stating, "I was on the verge of total collapse," and that "for me, it's every day of remembrance."

May, the daughter of Anat and Ofer and granddaughter of Shlomo, had fled the Nova festival near Re'im when the attack began. She found shelter in a protected room near Kibbutz Be'eri, where she was murdered by terrorists. Her mother, Anat, recalled the chilling moment contact was lost, recounting May's last words: "They are shooting at us, they are shooting at us." Since then, there has been only a single checkmark indicating her status.

Sharf expressed anger that the events could have been prevented, stating, "It could have been prevented, and that's what angers me more than anything." The family has channeled their immense pain and longing into a broad memorial initiative. This includes a children's show and play inspired by May, a memory book, a restaurant named in her honor, and an ambulance dedicated to saving lives in her memory.

Sharf spoke about the ambulance, saying, "The ambulance that bears my granddaughter's name, is there anything more noble than this?" The upcoming Wednesday marks three years since the attack that irrevocably changed the Sharf family's lives.