For Shirel

Dear readers,

You have probably read my columns about life here in Israel before. In them, I try to paint a picture of a country that has been dealing with attacks from terrorists and neighboring countries for decades. I've written columns about the big picture of geopolitics and about local politics. That's easy to do from a detached perspective. After all, it's about the helicopter view and about the world history that is unfolding in Israel.

There are many reactions from readers. Online, but also from family, friends, and acquaintances. Sometimes positive, sometimes negative. You learn from that, after all.

I am pro-Israel and I love the Israelis.

Just so you know. Jewish culture has taught me a lot, and as a Christian, I can connect with them. Their God is also my God, with all the differences that exist between our faiths. I have experienced with them being attacked here and spent time with them in the bomb shelters during rocket attacks. I have also walked alongside and gained insight into their citizen army, the IDF.

I deliberately use the term citizen army here. An army of citizens, who would all rather practice their profession as a baker, butcher, taxi driver, civil servant, doctor, IT specialist, researcher, or philosopher.

Conscription lasts three years for boys and two years for girls. In addition, they regularly do reserve duty. Everyone here knows how to use military weapons, and many also carry weapons during their daily activities. They have to. Peace is always in sight, but so is war.

Yesterday, the commemoration of the bestial attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, hit me like a sledgehammer. We all commemorate, but we often commemorate something from which we can still maintain some emotional distance. But this time, it wasn't the big picture that struck me, but a personal story, a tragedy.

Now, it was suddenly different.

At the invitation of Orit, I was able to attend a memorial for a fallen female soldier. Orit is a fantastic woman who provides food and much-needed supplies for the young soldiers returning from the front to the barracks. Soldiers who also want to be 'spoiled' sometimes and 'recover' (sometimes literally) in a warm bath, where they can once again enjoy a lovingly home-cooked meal. Canned food, you see—I know from experience—gets boring in the long run. But talking to people other than your daily brothers-in-arms also provides peace and distraction. Orit—about whom I will write a separate column—organizes this with hundreds of volunteers. In doing so, she also has to face the raw reality: the wounded and the killed soldiers. A reality for which you are never really prepared…

As a Middle East journalist, you have to try to keep your distance and remain neutral. After all, you are just 'visiting' everyone you interview. But this time it was completely different. It was a commemoration at a military cemetery. And we were remembering a flower of a young woman who was cruelly torn from this world.

I am talking about Shirel.

Daughter of Tzemeret and Eliezer. Sister of Nathaniel, Barak, and Lior.

Shirel was born in Rishon LeZion into a loving family as the youngest daughter. Her brother Barak said that it was a challenge for Shirel to grow up as a girl with three brothers and that it had toughened her. Shirel studied Arabic in high school. She chose this field of study because of her great interest in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. She was going to study international relations at university. She had even enrolled in an Arabic studies course in preparation for these studies. After her discharge from the army, she wanted to travel to London with her best friend and had already bought plane tickets for December 2023.

She was never able to make that trip.

Shirel joined the IDF on October 19, 2021, and served as an operations sergeant at the Nahal Oz outpost. She considered this position her calling. She dedicated herself wholeheartedly and extended her service out of a sense of responsibility, professionalism, and a pursuit of perfection. A month before her discharge, in September 2023, she received a certificate of excellence from the division commander. Soldiers who served with her in Nahal Oz told me she was the 'Queen of Nahal Oz.' Pleasant company, full of energy and cheerfulness.

The 'Black Sabbath' on October 7, 2023, was supposed to be Shirel's last Shabbat on the base before she was discharged to become a civilian again. She had finished her shift on Friday evening but decided to stay in the command room until three in the morning to assist the soldiers on duty.

Then the alarms went off later that Saturday morning. Shirel ran to the mobile shelter, still dressed in her pajamas and slippers. Realizing the gravity of the situation, she decided on her own initiative to leave the shelter. She quickly ran into the command room to coordinate the soldiers who were fighting Hamas outside. She ran while heavy gunfire, mortar shells, and rockets were being fired all around her.

She reached the command room and began her duty, which lasted for several hours. In her reports, she relayed data about the terrorist attack and directed troops to the area. (The IDF has recordings of her reports which show that she functioned professionally and calmly during those difficult hours).

Shirel even let her family know at 10:53 that Saturday morning that she was safe in the command room. At that moment, the situation on the base was already untenable. She probably wanted to reassure her family. The battle outside the command room lasted about fifty minutes. The voices of the terrorists could be heard through the command room door. When the terrorists realized they couldn't get into the command room, they set it on fire.

Shirel gave her life in the battle for the Nahal Oz outpost and fell bravely. Thanks to her great courage and resourcefulness, she was able to assist the IDF troops in battle until her last breath, thus saving many lives.

Family members and friends described her in our conversations as intelligent, modest. A lovely young woman with a sense of humor and someone who respected others. She helped anyone who needed help, also as a volunteer dedicated to animal rights.

Her favorite song was 'Red Sunsets' by the Israeli singer Eden Hasson.

Shirel's grandfather delivered a eulogy in Persian at her funeral. His words were published worldwide, and the family members received condolences from many Iranian emigrants.

At this commemoration (Rishon LeZion Military Cemetery, plot 9, row 3, grave 2), the entire immediate family and many friends spoke. Every word cut me to the soul, even though my Hebrew isn't very good. What struck me most was her father's iron-strong composure during this ceremony. A wonderful man. A rock. Welcoming to everyone who wanted to commemorate with them and speaking to everyone. All the while maintaining his dignity to remain strong for his wife and children.

A man with a fantastic family. A father of a young woman we can all be proud of.

But also a man we can be proud of.

For Shirel

For Israel

Lest we forget.

Am Yisrael Chai!