Remembering Shani Louk: A Talented Young Woman Tragically Murdered by Hamas Terrorists

Accident – death – Obituary News : When Shani Louk’s name is mentioned among the people of Israel, it conjures up haunting images of a distressing video disseminated by Hamas terrorists. The video showed a young woman lying unconscious in the back of a pickup on the streets of Gaza, with broken legs, while the perpetrators reveled in their heinous act. This chilling incident took place on October 7, and since then, a chilling theory has emerged about what happened to Shani Louk.

The theory suggests that Shani Louk, who also held German citizenship, was abducted to Gaza while severely injured and was hospitalized in the Strip. Sadly, about three weeks after that fateful Saturday, a final and heart-wrenching confirmation was received that she had been killed. In reality, she was murdered by the terrorists on the day of the attack.

For Shani’s family and friends, her name evokes a myriad of memories. She was remembered as a creative and talented young woman, brimming with zest for life. Shani’s boundless generosity was also well-known, which, according to her aunt, Orly Louk, may have been her ultimate virtue. “At times, I felt she was simply too good for this world,” Orly lamented.

Shani was born in the moshav of Aderet and later moved with her family to the community of Srigim at the age of two. She grew up in a loving family, with her mother Ricky, a native of Germany, and her father Nissim, a native of Israel. Shani had an older sister, Adi, as well as two younger brothers, Amit and Or. From a young age, it was evident that Shani was exceptionally creative. She had a unique sense of style and a talent for painting. Shani was known as a happy child, always bringing joy to her family and friends.

However, Shani’s creativity occasionally clashed with rigid structures. She left high school to attend an arts school in Jerusalem and later switched to another high school. She also resisted enlistment, always dreaming of independence and living in her own apartment in Tel Aviv. At the age of 18, she realized that dream, working various jobs to support herself. She pursued a course in graphic design and established a tattoo studio in her apartment, gradually establishing a successful livelihood from her talent.

Shani had a passion for music and dancing, as recounted by her mother, Ricky. After achieving financial stability, she delved into the world of music festivals. It was at one of these festivals in Europe where she met Orion Hernandez, a man from Mexico who would later become her partner. They had been together for eight months, and Orion had followed her to Israel a few days before the tragic events of October 7.

The last conversation Ricky had with her daughter took place on that fateful Saturday morning. Shani assured her family that she was safe and driving to a secure location with Orion. However, they were unable to escape from the terrorists. Orion was kidnapped to Gaza, and their friend Keshet was murdered. Initially, there was hope that Shani was also kidnapped while injured and still alive. However, about three weeks later, her family received confirmation that she had been killed.

For the majority of her younger years, Shani resided close to her aunt Orly’s family in Srigim. They had an extraordinary bond, sharing a streak of defiance and a sense of taste. Orly remembers Shani as a child whose heart was brimming with love. Shani believed that there were no evil people in the world, only those who lacked understanding or faced difficulties. However, the events of October 7 shattered that belief.

Shani Cohen, a close friend of Shani Louk, described her as a sociable girl with an artistic soul. They first met when Louk moved to study at a high school in Jerusalem. Shani was always willing to do anything for her friends, even sacrificing work days to help them. Until last June, they were also roommates in Tel Aviv, where Shani’s hospitality was indescribable. She loved inviting friends over and cooking for them, connecting with people and making them feel at home.

Shani had dreams of tattooing and designing clothes, studying sewing and wanting to establish a large studio where she could do tattoos and piercings, and sell clothes designed by her. She wanted her friends to work with her in the studio, each having a role based on their skills.

Shani Louk’s tragic story and the memories of her loved ones serve as a reminder of the senseless violence and loss caused by terrorism. Shani was a young woman full of creativity, generosity, and love, whose life was cut short by a heinous act. Her memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her, and her story serves as a call to end the cycle of violence and promote peace..