Remembering IMPACT! Student Omri Ben Shachar (z”l)

“Don’t worry. We’re strong here. We’ll be OK.” These were the final words Lorin and Alan Gottlieb heard from their IMPACT! student, 25-year-old Omri Ben Shachar (z”l) – a master sergeant in the 55th Brigade’s 6623 Battalion – before he deployed to Gaza shortly after the attacks of October 7. Tragically, on Dec. 8, Omri was killed while bravely fighting in Khan Yunis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Omri, of Givatayim, was the son of Anat and Reuven Ben Shachar, a former mayor of Givatayim, and a cherished twin brother to Nadav. He was also the devoted boyfriend of five years to Lior Mechorish.

Reflecting on Omri’s life, his father, Reuven, shared, “In his short life, he lived. Some people say that in 25 years he did what some others don’t do in many more years. But he could’ve done many things in the future for Israel and for the world. He felt that he should do the best he can for his country, for his family, for the society, for Israel.”

Omri marked the third scholar sponsored by the Gottliebs from Columbus, Ohio, through FIDF’s IMPACT! Scholarship program. This initiative pairs donors with former combat and combat support soldiers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, providing them with living expenses and a four-year scholarship. In fact, this month, the program recognized its 20,000th recipient since its founding more than 21 years ago.

After two years of regular calls and text messages, the Gottliebs finally met Omri in person last August, and their connection deepened. When they shared pictures while attending the rally for Israel on November 14 in Washington, D.C., Omri responded with “we feel your strength.”

Throughout his studies in electrical engineering at Tel Aviv University, Omri fulfilled dozens of volunteer hours as required by the program. It was during this time that he forged a deep bond with a local Holocaust survivor, Moshe Adler, whom he came to call his friend. Moshe, in turn, attended Omri’s funeral, a testament to the strong connection they shared.

As we honor Omri’s memory and celebrate his legacy of service and compassion, we are reminded of the profound reach, and the multiple lives touched, through each IMPACT! scholarship. “The generosity of the Gottleibs helped my son study, become involved with the community and support a Holocaust survivor who became an important person in Omri’s life.” Omri’s legacy will live on through all the lives he touched and more. The remining two years of his scholarship will be passed on to his twin, Nadav, whose IMPACT! story is just beginning.