Hundreds of people gathered to pay tribute to, and remember, Dan Elkayam – a young man whose life was characterized by kindness, warmth, and a quiet strength, which had inspired everyone who had known him.
Dan was still very young, aged 27 years old. He liked doing everything. He was one of those people who liked doing little things. He loved playing football. He loved going to beaches. He loved having his friends around. The thing about Dan was that he had an effortless smile and was such a gentle soul that he made people feel comfortable and included.
As the sun was shining bright on a beautiful day at Bondi Beach, Dan was doing nothing but what he loved most – playing football near the ocean while enjoying a holiday which was of great significance to him. However, it was meant to be a day of happiness and celebration and became a point which would go down in his history forever.
When sudden danger erupted on the scene, witnesses reported that Dan didn’t bat an eye. “He didn’t give any thought to protecting himself. He ran to a little girl who was in danger and put his body on her to protect her,” one witness said. In one split second, Dan demonstrated extreme courage – the type which doesn’t act on instinct but on an overwhelming caring heart.
“Giving of himself just came naturally to Dan. It’s just who Dan was.” This is what Dan’s friends say. “I remember a time at a soccer game when tensions were very high. Dan saw that an opposing player had fallen, and instead of going off on a tirade, he assisted him to his feet and hugged him. It’s a memory that captures Dan’s essence. He’s a very gentle man, a humble man, a man who always prefers kindness to combat.”
Dan had established his life in Australia, where he has his partner and numerous friends who regard him as family. On the other side of the world in France, Dan’s whole family—parents and brothers and sisters’ children—are confronted with losing a son and brother who loved with no boundaries of distance.
As the people met to bid their final farewells, the feeling of grief threatened to overwhelm. The tears streamed from eyes as memories were shared and stories told. A dear friend lingered after the service to place one final lone flower on Dan’s coffin and lay her hand upon it. Although Dan Elkayam’s years were much too few, it’s known that those who knew him well enough feel his memory will never be lost. His strength, his empathy, and his kindness will be with people through his memory and through the life Dan Elkayam protected with whatever time he had left. Dan’s memory brings a message to people through which many seem to promise to emulate Dan’s behavior in their own lives, be kind, save others, and be brave like Dan in his final act.
