essay
Daniel — A True Hero of His Generation
T
his war that Hamas started has
caused terrible pain and loss to
countless people and no more so than
for a beautiful family that I have the merit of
living alongside in Yad Binyamin. A day we
hoped would not come, their
son, brother, grandchild, neph-
ew, cousin, friend Capt. Daniel
Perez, may his soul be bound
up in the bond of eternal life,
was confirmed as having been
killed on Oct. 7.
He died Al Kiddush Hashem
(sanctifying God’s name). He
made the ultimate sacrifice for his people
and his country. He was killed while actively
defending his country against a barbaric
enemy committed to nothing other than
hatred and death.
His death is nothing other than a tragedy
for his wonderful family, friends and other
loved ones.
For the broader world, it is perhaps a
reminder of the true double-sided nature of
Oct. 7 and will serve as a reminder about
who and what we are fighting for.
On the 7th of October, we saw terri-
ble tragedy on levels not seen since the
Holocaust — people brutally murdered,
kidnapped, raped — by an army of terrorists
fueled by sheer hatred and a desire to kill as
many Jews and other innocent civilians as
possible.
On the 7th of October, we also saw a group
of true heroes who gave everything they had,
quite literally, to save as many lives as possi-
ble and to contain what by all estimates could
have been a far worse situation. Daniel was
in this group and, by all accounts, gave every
ounce of his precious life to defending our
precious country. Our younger generation
that we once labeled “Gen Z” has stepped up
miraculously as heroes, and Daniel was at the
heart of this.
These last few months, sadly, I have
written about Daniel many times, first as
an unnamed hostage until the IDF cleared
his name for publication, then on this blog
as Daniel Perez, the son of wonderful neigh-
bors/friends and now as Capt. Daniel Perez
killed on the 7th of October, a hero in the
face of brutal onslaught by the most terrible
of terrorists. I truly hoped and prayed this
day would never come!
At times like this, I tend to rely on the
words of the late Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
He stated it poignantly when he said in ref-
erence to Israel Memorial Day: “Jews fought,
and never more so than in the State of Israel,
with the courage that you find only in those
whose ultimate aim is not victory but peace,
not triumph but life. Let us acknowledge the
heroes of Medinat Yisrael (the State of Israel),
the heroes not just of military battle, but also
the heroes of the human spirit, who are will-
ing to die so that we can live. They lit a flame
in the Jewish heart that will never die. Let
us remember them and their past and look
today at the Israel they have built. A land of
freedom and energy and creativity and life.
”
We are not interested in death or killing
or revenge over our neighbors — we don’t
hate, and we want peace but as the name
“Israel Defense Forces” states so literally, we
are going to defend ourselves with our lives
if needed to protect and preserve this special
land and people.
He was a hero in whose merit our society
continues to exist and act as a beacon of hope
in this world. Our soldiers are doing the
work of heroes, operating at the highest eth-
ical standards and bravery against terrorists
who hate so much they are sacrificing their
own to feed their thirst.
Our enemies should know that far from
being a weakness, our love of life, freedom
and hope is a true strength. Daniel and many
other precious souls made and continue to
make the ultimate sacrifice and it is, I believe,
incumbent on us to honor this and each find
his or her own way to make their contribu-
tion to this truly special cause. Daniel, you
and your family have inspired me to step up,
even if just by writing, and I know you have
inspired others.
We must not let terror win physically or
morally and we must get our other captives
back now.
Capt. Daniel Perez — a true hero!
Ben Lazarus lives in Yad Binyamin having made aliyah
17 years ago from London. He has an amazing wife
and kids, including a son in Special Forces and two
daughters, one soon to start university and one in high
school. He is a partner of a global consulting firm and
a Parkinson’s patient and advocate.
Ben Lazarus
Times of
Israel
PURELY COMMENTARY
When a terrorist army rampaged into Israel on a killing spree, the best
of our Gen Z stepped up in defense - even when it meant giving their all.
Family picture of Daniel Perez.
4 | MARCH 28 • 2024