On Monday, March 17, heroic IDF soldier Daniel Perez was declared to have been killed during the Oct. 7 attack. After 163 days of believing that Perez was alive in Hamas captivity, his family was notified of his death, although his body is still being held in Gaza. Daniel Perez, along with his four-member artillery squadron, encountered hundreds of Hamas terrorists along the southern border at Kibbutz Nahal Oz and died fighting to protect the land and its people.
The Perez family holds immense significance within the Heschel community. Daniel’s sister, Shira, spoke to the high school, advocating for her brother’s release in the earlier months of the war. Her grace, strength, and love for her brother deeply inspired the Heschel community, fostering a profound admiration for him.
Daniel’s funeral was held in Jerusalem, where many came to pay their respects to the heroic fallen soldier.