Teen Killed in Jordan Valley Crash Dreamed of Elite Sayeret Matkal Unit

By אור רביד

Translated & summarized from Mako by baba

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Hebrew · 2 newsrooms covering

Zohar Tamir, an 18-year-old from Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi, was killed in a car accident in the Jordan Valley on Saturday night, along with another young woman, while three others were injured. Tamir, who had recently celebrated his birthday and his sister's bat mitzvah, had passed the selection process for the elite Sayeret Matkal unit. His uncle described him as a mature and motivated young man who lived life to the fullest. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Eighteen-year-old Zohar Tamir, who aspired to join Sayeret Matkal, died in a Jordan Valley car crash.
Another young woman was killed and three others injured in the Saturday night accident.
Tamir had recently celebrated his 18th birthday and his sister's bat mitzvah.
He had successfully passed the selection process for the elite Sayeret Matkal unit.
The accident occurred near his home kibbutz, Tirat Tzvi.
The circumstances of the fatal crash are currently under investigation.

Teen Killed in Jordan Valley Crash Dreamed of Elite Sayeret Matkal Unit — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Zohar Tamir, an 18-year-old from Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi, was killed in a car accident in the Jordan Valley on Saturday night. Another young woman also died in the crash, and three other people were injured. The accident occurred about 500 meters from Tamir's kibbutz, just days after he celebrated his 18th birthday and his younger sister's bat mitzvah.

Tamir's uncle, Shachar, told N12 that Zohar had aspired to serve in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit and had successfully passed the "Sayarot Day" selection process, qualifying for a tryout in November. "Zohar was 18, but often it felt like I was talking to someone much more mature," Shachar said, describing his nephew as having a quiet, powerful gaze, a curious and intelligent nature, and a deep connection to Torah and Judaism. He also loved the land, nature, and agricultural work.

Shachar recounted the family's recent celebrations, saying, "Just on Wednesday Zohar celebrated his 18th birthday, and the next day we celebrated with him and his family his younger sister's bat mitzvah. And now we are back on the same grass of the house, only under completely different and opposite circumstances." The family received the initial news to go to HaEmek Hospital in Afula, where the tragic information was delivered.

Tamir, who is survived by his parents, Yael and Rudi, and four siblings, had also recently traveled abroad, including a trip to Georgia with friends and to northern Greece with his father. "Perhaps the thing that comforts me is that he truly didn't waste any moment," his uncle noted. The circumstances of the fatal accident are still under investigation, and the family has not yet received details about what happened. Shachar urged for greater responsibility and caution on the roads, reflecting on the fragility of life.