The names of the four people killed in the missile strike on Haifa have been cleared for publication. All were members of the same family.
The city of Haifa issued a statement on behalf of the family, announcing the deaths of Vladimir Gershovitz, 73; Lena Ostrovsky, 68; Dima Gershovitz, 42; and Lucille Jane Gershovitz, 29. Dima was the only son of Vladimir and Lena. Dima and Lucille Jane married in April 2024.
The family asked to share the following: "A family of beloved people with hearts of gold. They were always kind and warm to everyone they met. They loved life, loved culture, and loved to travel. They left a mark of light everywhere they went and on every person they met. We, the family, are heartbroken. Losing them is a terrible tragedy – not just for us, but for everyone who knew them. They will be deeply missed."
Shortly before the missile struck their home, the family's father, Vladimir, had been hospitalized at Rambam Medical Center's underground hospital. He was discharged and returned home just an hour and a half before the strike. Lena had been a voice coach at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Jerusalem.
Family members had come to the hospital to accompany Vladimir home. Because first responders at the scene did not know where the family was and suspected they might have been evacuated to one of the hospitals as wounded, Haifa Police officers contacted Rambam's security department to check whether they had been admitted. They were startled to learn that Vladimir had been discharged shortly before the strike.
Police then asked Rambam's security department to help locate the family's vehicle on the hospital's security cameras to determine whether the car was parked near the damaged building. Once the car was identified on camera and confirmed to be parked outside the building, it was clear that a disaster had occurred and that the family had been trapped under the rubble.
The school where Lena taught issued a tribute, "The Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Jerusalem mourns the death of studio teacher Lena Gershevitz, who was killed alongside her family in the Haifa missile strike. Lena was a wonderful and beloved teacher who nurtured generations of students with love, dedication, and boundless professionalism."
Shaham, the Israeli Actors' Union, also issued a statement: "We grieve the tragic death of Lena Ostrovsky, a veteran and legendary voice development teacher at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Jerusalem, who was killed alongside her family in the Haifa missile strike. For three decades, Lena nurtured generations of actors with dedication, professionalism, and above all, a deep love for her craft and her students. We extend our sincere condolences to her family, her colleagues, the studio community, and all the students and alumni who had the privilege of learning from her."
The four trapped individuals – who had been searched for over many hours – were found dead in the early morning hours and pulled from the rubble. In addition, an 82-year-old resident of the city was moderately wounded and rescued from the ruins.
