SYOSSET, NY — A memorial service for Omer Neutra, a fallen Israeli army soldier, was held on Long Island on Tuesday.
It was once believed that Neutra had been taken hostage during the war October 7 Hamas attackbut the IDF confirmed this on Monday he was murdered while defending a kibbutz on the day women, children and the elderly were kidnapped and murdered.
His body was taken to Gaza, where it is still being held.
Commemoration of Omer Neutra on Long Island
The Neutra family
It wasn’t until Tuesday that there was room at the Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, where more than a thousand people gathered with heavy hearts and losing hope.
Neutral, a 21-year-old from Plainviewwas emotionally remembered as a charismatic, magnanimous and good-natured leader with a memorable smile who did what he believed was his duty. He took a gap year after high school, leaving the safety of Long Island to join the IDF and serve a year before college to keep the peace and protect Israel.
“He literally put himself on the line, ultimately with the goal of making the world a better and safer world,” said Rabbi Joel Levenson of the Midway Jewish Center.
“You hope for another 400 days that you can see him again,” said friend Hayden Roth.
Neutra’s parents, brother and friends spoke of the young man who came to know the world through his image alone, in what they called an excruciating journey.
“How do you talk about your son that you’ve been fighting for fourteen months, hoping and praying that he survived the most terrible conditions on earth, and yet you won’t see him again? And then, at some point, one knock on the door, and it’s all over. You have to internalize that you’re never going to see him again,” said his father, Ronen Neutra.
“Now things are clear, but not as we had hoped, and your emptiness, a big hole in my stomach,” said his mother, Orna Neutra. “Omer, you are leaving behind many broken hearts now. You gave too much too soon.”
“I’m relieved to know that all this time you weren’t suffering or tortured in the ways I expect you would have been. You are someone larger than life, we are all so lucky to have known someone as special as you. You will always be our hero, love the person who will love you forever,” friend Alyssa Medelowitz added.
“Why did we lose our handsome but humble boy? Why? Why? Why? Because some people chose war over peace, others hated over love,” friend Rachel Cronin added.
Neutra’s family calls for all hostages to be brought home
Neutra’s parents were fighting tirelessly for Hamas to release the hostages the past fourteen months to end the war. His brother made a tearful plea to return his remains and all the hostages.
“The greatest honor we can give him is saving the people he gave his life to protect,” said Daniel Neutra.
Next to Neutra’s parents were Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s parents, an American-Israeli hostage who was executed earlier this year along with five others. The family was also joined by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff.
“A young man, steeped in his faith, believed in the cause of protecting Israel and his story is an inspiration to us all,” Hochul said.
Shiva’s seven-day mourning period will be held at the Midway Jewish Center through Thursday before continuing in Israel.
Carolyn Gusoff
