In May of 2001, 13 year old Koby left home in Tekoa for a hike with his friend Yosef Ishran.  Hours later, their bodies were found in a nearby cave, victims of Palestinian terrorists. 

 

Koby’s murder shocked Israel and the world and changed our family forever.  Determined to ensure that his and Yosef’s deaths would not be in vain and to help others who have lost a family member to terror, the Koby Mandell Foundation was established.

 

As we mark this 20th anniversary, coming at a time of challenge and uncertainty for our world, we have created a program in Koby's memory, intended for communities and schools to help students better appreciate and connect with Israel’s Yom Hazikaron. 

 

Our program, an educational memorial package, consists of a short five minute video that tells Koby's story, along with discussion materials on the connection between resilience and commemoration in Jewish tradition available in English and Hebrew.  (These materials are adapted from Sherri's book, "The Road to Resilience.")

 

The program can be adjusted by teachers but is estimated to last 30 minutes and is appropriate for ages 13 and above. 

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