An Israeli man killed Sunday morning when a missile struck his vehicle has been identified as Ofer Moskowitz, who managed the avocado groves at Kibbutz Misgav Am.

Although he and his family had relocated to Kibbutz Ginosar during the fighting in northern Israel, Moskowitz continued traveling back frequently to Misgav Am to care for the orchards and the kibbutz’s chicken coops near the Lebanese border, despite the ongoing security risks.

Only days before he was killed, Moskowitz openly acknowledged the danger he was living with, saying, “At any moment a missile or a UAV could hit me. It’s like Russian roulette.”

Kibbutz Misgav Am issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over his death, remembering him as “an orator, farmer, friend, and a symbol and legacy for all of us.” The statement continued, “For years he was a central voice among us. We send our deepest condolences and a strong embrace to his family and to the entire Misgav Am community. The Galilee will not look the same without him. May his memory be blessed.”

In an interview conducted in July, Moskowitz described how he tried to protect the orchards during earlier attacks. “I opened all the irrigation taps so the water would flood the area, and that’s what stopped the fire from spreading,” he said. Even so, approximately 400,000 square meters of fruit trees were lost in the blaze.

Despite the devastation, Moskowitz spoke about rebuilding with optimism and determination. “With great joy and excitement, we are replanting. We are planting not only trees, but also hope, faith, and renewal.”