Thursday, September 04, 2014

All in the Name, Part III

During my son's brit milah this past Tuesday, the lil one got his name ... Oren* Reuben** Piha.

* Oren Stern z'l was my mother-in-law's late twin brother, who passed away at the age of 18 due to medical negligence while his family was on sabbatical in Israel. When I first heard of his tragic story, I felt it was important that Talya and I honor him in the future.

Oren's photographs always stood out to me - he was always smiling ... a powerful, exuberant smile. It wasn't surprising to hear from my mother-in-law and a family friend that he was always an upbeat, happy person. One of the stories that sticks out to me was that despite attending public high school, he never missed his morning prayers and always wore his tzizit.

Oren passed away at Hadassah Ein Karem in 1972 ... 42 years later, his namesake was born at the same hospital. May our Oren continue in the same path Oren Stern was following - one of happiness, strong connection to his family and being proud of his Jewish identity.

* We decided to honor my late Gramps, Rube (ראובן) Levitt, who passed away on the 1st day of Hanukkah last year (2013, תשע"ד). Gramps was a quiet gentlemen whom I miss dearly. It's a tremendous privilege for me to have Oren carry his name, and I hope he lives his life in the same humble, respectful manner that Gramps did.


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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The New Arrival, III

Talya and I are very happy to announce the arrival of our third child, a baby boy born this morning at 9:10am at Hadassah Ein Kerem. He weighed in at 3.24 kilos ... Let the adventure begin!



The name and more to follow probably ... stay tuned.
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Monday, August 04, 2014

May their Memories be a Blessing, XII

Sec.-Lt. Hadar Goldin, 23, of Kfar Saba


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Sunday, August 03, 2014

May their Memories be a Blessing, XI

Major Benaya Sarel, 26, of Kiryat Arba



St.-Sgt. Liel Gidoni, 20, of Jerusalem



Sergeant First Class (res.) Daniel Marash, 22, of Rishon Lezion



Capt. (res.) Liran Adir (Edry), 31, of Ezuz


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Friday, August 01, 2014

May their Memories be a Blessing, X

St.-Sgt. Shay Kushnir, 20, of Kiryat Motzkin




Capt. Omri Tal, 22, of Yehud


St.-Sgt. Noam Rosenthal, 20, of Meitar



Sergeant First Class (res.) Daniel Marash, 22, of Rishon Lezion
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Thursday, July 31, 2014

May their Memories be a Blessing, IX

Staff Sergeant Matan Gotlib, 21, from Rishon LeZion

Fallen soldier Matan Gotlib, 21-year-old from Rishon LeZion

Staff Sergeant Omer Hay, 21, from Savyon

Fallen soldier Omer Hay, 21-year-old from Savyon

Staff Sergeant Guy Algranati, 20, from Tel Aviv.

Fallen soldier Guy Algranati, 20-year-old from Tel Aviv
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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

May their Memories be a Blessing, VIII

St.-Sgt. Moshe Davino, 20, of Jerusalem



Sgt. First Class Adi Briga, 23 of Beit Shikma


St.Sgt. Eliav Eliyahu Haim Kahlon, 22 of Safed



Corporal Meidan Maymon Biton, 20 of Netivot

Meidan Biton

Corporal, Niran Cohen, 20 of Tiberias

Niran Cohen

Sgt. Nadav Raimond, 19, from Shadmot Dvora

Nadav Raimond

Sergeant Dor Deri, 18, from


Sergeant Sagi Erez, 19, of Kiryat Ata


Sergeant Barkai Yishai Shor, 21, of Jerusalem

Barkai Shor

Sergeant Daniel Kedmi, 18, of Tzofim



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Saturday, July 26, 2014

May their Memories be a Blessing, VII

St.-Sgt. Guy Boyland, 21, from Ginosar


St.-Sgt. Guy Levy, 21, from Kfar Vradim

guy levy
Staff Sgt.  Amit Yeori, 20, from Jerusalem

Ssgt. Amit Yeori, killed Friday night in the Gaza Strip (Photo credit: Courtesy IDF)

Lt. Roy Peles, 21, of Tel Aviv (Left), Ssgt. Avraham Grintzvaig, 21, of Petah Tikva (Center), Ssgt. Gal Bason, 21, of Holon (Right)

Three IDF soldiers killed Saturday, July 26, from left to right: Roy Peles, Avraham Grintzvaig, Gal Bason (Photo credit: Courtesy IDF)

Captain Liav Lavi, 22, from Telmi Yossef
Captain Liav Lavi

Sergeant Major Rami Chalon, 39, from Hadera

Rami Chalon

Sergeant First Class (res.) Barak Refael Degorker, 27, from Gan Yavne

Sgt. First Class (res.) Barak Refael Degorker (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
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Friday, July 25, 2014

May their Memories be a Blessing, VI

 NCO Master Sgt. (res.) Yair Ashkenazy, 36, from Rehovot


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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

May their Memories be a Blessing, V

Lieutenant Paz Elyahu, 22, from Evron

Lieutenant Paz Elyahu, 22, from Evron (screen capture: Channel 2)

Staff Sergeant Shahar Dauber, 20, from Ginegar

Staff Sergeant Shahar Dauber, 20, from Ginegar (screen capture: Channel 2)

Staff Sergeant Li Mat, 19, from Eilat

Staff Sergeant Li Mat, 19, from Eilat (screen capture: Channel 2)
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May their Memories be a Blessing, IV


St.-Sgt. Evyatar Turgeman, 20, from Beit She'an

Evyatar Turgeman

Captain Dmitri Levitas, 26, of Jerusalem

Fallen IDF officer Capt. Dmitri Levitas, 26, of Jerusalem (photo credit: IDF Spokesperson)

Lt. Natan Cohen, 23, of Modi'in
סגן נתן כהן ()_

Monday, July 21, 2014

May their Memories be a Blessing, III

Lt. Col. Dolev Kedar, 38, of Modi’in

Lt.-Col. Dolev Kidar

SSgt. Tal Yifrach, 21, of Rishon Lezion

Staff Sgt. Tal Yifrach

SSgt. Yuval Dagan, 22, of Kfar Sava



Sgt. Nadav Goldmacher, 23, of Beersheba



SFC Baynesain Kasahun, 39, of Netivot


Baynesian Kasahun

Sec. Lt. Yuval Hayman, 21, of Efrat

Second lieutenant Yuval Heiman

SSgt. Jordan Ben-Simon, 22, of Ashkelon



SSgt. Oded Ben-Sira, 22, of Nir Etzion


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