Omri Tamari, son of Elad and Sharon, the eldest brother of Amit and Inbar and Lia's partner – was born on May 19, 2005 and grew up in Mazkeret Batya.

The sentence that best describes his character: "Say little and do a lot."

This is how his friend Omar eulogized him, in a sentence that sums it up accurately: "How can you describe in words a person who did everything – without words?"

Omri grew up and was educated on values. His parents say that these values ​​were a lamp to his feet and guided his path in every area of ​​his life. Even as a child, he spent a lot of time outside the home, taking trips, spending time with friends, playing basketball and volunteering – always active, always proactive.

He was an excellent student, independent, sociable, always ready to help others and highly aware of himself and others. He knew how to ask for forgiveness when necessary, never gave up on himself and always strived for the best. He had a profound positive influence on everyone around him, at all times and everywhere.

His greatest love was for Mazkeret Batya. His mother says that when he grew up, he shared with her his regret that he was not born in the town, but moved there in the third grade.
Omri studied at the local "Keshet" school, and since then, he became an inseparable part of a close-knit group of friends. Together they played on the "Hapoel Mazkeret Batya" basketball team and were inseparable. They set themselves group challenges and one of them, the "Sugar Challenge" at the age of 14, symbolised Omri's tremendous willpower: while all his friends broke down, he continued to completely avoid sweet foods - until his last day.

Amit, his younger brother, says that Omri was the perfect older brother - caring, loving, and integrating him into his group of friends as if he were one of them.
Omri had a partner - Lia - and a deep and moving friendship was formed between them.

Every Shabbat was an undertaking for him - he set a busy schedule for himself, stuck to it and at the end sat down to examine himself: What he did well and how he could improve next time.
His mother shares: "There was never a situation where I asked him for something and he didn't see it as a privilege. He always volunteered, always helped, always saw the other person."

Omri aimed high – in every sense: physical, mental and intellectual. He excelled in his studies, studied five units of mathematics, English, biology and neuroscience at the Weizmann Institute, and even received a certificate of excellence from the Ministry of Education.

As part of his personal commitment, he volunteered in the "Paratrak" project – an outdoor vehicle for children with disabilities – as well as at the local sustainability centre.

In the 11th grade, he began preparing for military service and joined the "Expert" combat fitness group. There too, he stood out in his desire for excellence, but unfortunately, he was denied two days of military training by the army.

Upon graduation, he went on a year of service at the "Telamim Center" in Kibbutz Magal. But in the middle of the year, he was drafted for emergency conscription due to the outbreak of war.

During the third conscription, he fell ill and was unable to take the test properly. He was initially assigned to combat engineering, but refused. He was eventually assigned to the Golani Brigade, Battalion 51.

At first, he was disappointed by the assignment, but he soon stood out there too. His friends say that he was always first in exams, and above all, a sensitive, caring person, one who saw others.
During a camp defence duty, when one of the soldiers refused to wake up for guard duty, Omri, calmly and quietly, replaced him, without anger, without complaint.
Even during difficult journeys, he would look back to see who was having difficulty and push him forward, physically and spiritually.

His parents say that if his life had not been cut short, he would certainly have continued in a military career or turned to studying medicine or veterinary medicine.
Omri was about to leave for the commanders' course early, but a month before the end of the training and before he had even received his beret, the unimaginable disaster occurred.

On October 13, 2024, his company returned from a day of volunteering at the Wheel House in Ra'anana and entered the dining room for dinner.
Suddenly, a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) was launched from Lebanon that hit the company. Shrapnel hit Omri and his comrades.
Omri was evacuated by helicopter to the hospital, where he fought for his life. But with great sadness, the doctors were forced to pronounce him dead.

Omri – the man who was full of life – passed away without a trace.

At that moment, his mother was at home when she received a phone call from Lia, his partner, informing her that a UAV had crashed at the base where he served.
His mother says that at that moment, she knew in her heart that her son was no more.
His father and brother rushed to Rambam Hospital, where they received the hardest news of all.

His parents say:
"The world lost Omri, and it doesn't know how much it lost. He had a positive impact on everyone around him. He was all good."

Omri, you will always remain in our hearts - the son, the grandson, the older brother, the partner and the friend that anyone would want.
You were always there for us all. You were too good for this world.
You were - and you will be forever.