Father of Slain Nesya Karadi Shares Story of Faith and Resilience After Tragedy
Elazar Karadi returns daily to his missile-damaged home in memory of his daughter Nesya, who died weeks after the attack. The family draws strength from global support and faith.
Nearly a month has passed since an Iranian missile struck near the Karadi family home. Elazar Karadi still returns every morning to the damaged house. Although the family no longer lives there, for him, the site remains deeply connected to his daughter, Nesya, who was critically injured in the attack and passed away three and a half weeks later.
"I come here every morning to say good morning to her, light a candle, and read chapters of Psalms. From here, I continue my day. How do we go on? We don't really go on. I talk to my wife, to the family, make sure the children are okay, and that is how another day in life passes."
Signs of the blast are still visible throughout the house. Shrapnel pierced the walls and windows, leaving marks everywhere. Elazar points to the nearby gas canisters and the shrapnel damage surrounding them, viewing the survival of the rest of his family as a series of miracles amidst the tragedy.
The Moment the Home Became an Emergency Zone
On the morning of the attack, the family was preparing for Passover. According to Elazar, the siren and the explosion occurred almost simultaneously, leaving no time to reach the protected space where the family usually gathered.
One of his sons ran to him with another brother who had been wounded in the arm. Elazar, an ambulance driver and paramedic, began treating him and sent his son to check on the other siblings. Shortly after, Nesya was brought to him, critically injured.
"Even though I have seen accidents and severe injuries in my life, when it is your own children, it is a completely different world. Out of shock, I lost consciousness. When I came to, I struggled to realize that I was in my own home and that the injured girl in front of me was my daughter."
Elazar managed to treat her until medical teams arrived. Nesya was evacuated to the hospital in critical condition, where doctors fought for her life. For Elazar, the fact that she survived for another three and a half weeks was an additional grace.
"The Almighty showed us mercy. She arrived at the hospital without a drop of blood and in cardiac arrest. The doctors fought for her, and she lived with us for another three and a half weeks."
He recalls that Nesya's birth was also considered a miracle by the family. The midwife told his wife at the time that she could not medically explain how the baby was born alive. Consequently, they named her Nesya, meaning "a miracle from God."
Faith and Legacy
During her weeks in the hospital, Nesya's condition showed temporary signs of improvement, making the news of her passing particularly difficult. Yet, Elazar repeatedly returns to the concept of faith.
"The Almighty decided, and we do not question our Father. We must believe that He is a good Father, who loves us and embraces us at every moment, even if He does not explain all His calculations."
He draws strength from Nesya's own character. He describes her as someone who made no distinctions between secular and religious, right-wing or left-wing. To her, every human being was simply a human being, and she always sought to make others smile.
Since her passing, the family has dedicated themselves to continuing her path. Nesya's mother speaks to women to strengthen their resolve, and Elazar asks those touched by their story to take upon themselves a small good deed or religious observance in her memory. The family receives messages from people worldwide who have committed to observing Shabbat, wearing tefillin, or practicing acts of kindness.
"Today, for our family, the embrace of the Jewish people is Nesya's embrace. When we see someone strengthening their faith, we receive our embrace from her."
Every morning, Elazar continues to visit the damaged home, lighting a candle, reciting Psalms, and telling his daughter about the people continuing to do good in her memory.
