essay
Daniel — A True Hero of His Generation 

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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 

