
Day 13 of 36
“You live every day. You die only once.”
Staff Sgt. Ori Gerby z”l
Living fully
Friday | 29 Elul 5786 | September 11, 2026 | Erev Rosh Hashana
Video reflection
The video reflection for this day has not yet been published.
Each day’s reflection is offered by a rabbi, educator, or Jewish leader from somewhere in the world, and appears here on its day of light.
Reflect & live it
Living Fully: Are you making the most of your days? What does it mean to truly live, not just exist?
Legacy: What do you want others to remember about you after you're gone? How much effort do you put into shaping that legacy today?
Your private reflection
This space is yours alone. What you write here is saved only in this browser — it is never sent to us or anyone else.
How Ori lived
Ori, the eldest son of Naomi and Haggai, and brother to Yuval, served as a sniper in the Givati Reconnaissance Unit and had a deep love for his service and his comrades. He was an athlete at heart, a competitive tennis player who also loved basketball and long-distance running. He was critically injured in battle in Khan Yunis by an anti-tank missile and succumbed to his wounds the next day. His organs were donated, saving the lives of a 6-year-old girl and a 5-month-old baby. He was 20 years old when he fell.
- Born:
- 3 April 2003 (30 Adar I 5763)
- Fell:
- 18 January 2024 (8 Shevat 5784)
Words from the community
Messages of memory and gratitude, shared by visitors and reviewed with care before they appear.
Be the first to leave a message of memory for this day.
Walk the journey with us
Receive each day’s light by email, or share this hero’s page with someone who should meet them.