Honoring Omer Neutra: Schechter Holds Siyum Tanakh Ceremony

by Liba Fruithandler, SSLI '28

This morning, the Schechter community hosted a Siyum Tanakh and gathered with the Neutra family in order to honor the memory of Omer Neutra Hy”D.

Omer Neutra joined Schechter in first grade and graduated in 2019. He was a vibrant member of the Schechter community and was captain of both Boys Varsity Basketball and Volleyball. Once he graduated high school, he decided to take a gap year in Israel and later joined the IDF, becoming a tank commander. On October 7 2023, Omer was stationed on the Gaza border, and his tank malfunctioned after being hit by Hamas terrorists. Along with two fellow soldiers, he was killed.

The ceremony began with the Schechter choir singing three different songs: Givat Hatachmoshet, Et Hamanginah Hazot, and another song that was written after October 7, which ended with part of Hatikvah. Choir director Ms. Stern said, “We selected songs that I knew Omer liked. He loved Givat Hatachmoshet. He loved it because it made him feel like he was there. In Israel.” Choir member and junior Shir Levenson said, “It was beautiful to honor his memory by singing songs that he did … and reflected his values and what he did.”

Later in the ceremony, Coach Jurysta, the Athletics Director, retired Omer’s jersey, number 24. His retired jersey acts as a symbol of his passion and spirit, inspiring future students.

The Schechter community will continue to honor Omer’s bravery and heroism. (A. Pravato)

Ms. DuBow, the Director of Jewish Education and Community Engagement, announced that for around 30 days, the Schechter community had come together to learn all 929 chapters of the Tanakh in honor of Omer Neutra. Ms. DuBow said that it is a “common practice in Judaism to continue to do mitzvot in the name of a person who has passed away, and give them the credit.”

Each person who learned a chapter made a small Dvar Torah to go along with it. Sophomore Sara Rosenthal said, “I wrote about how [the portion I read] reminded me of Omer. Even though I barely knew him, I can always remember how he fought for me and” Israel.

Mr. Shlefstein, a Schechter parent and the president of our board of trustees, announced new initiatives that Schechter will begin in Omer’s memory: an annual award will be presented to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities that Omer embodied; a scholarship will be awarded to a Schechter senior who chooses to take a gap year in Israel; and The Omer Neutra's Legacy Fund was created.

The event allowed people in the Schechter community, including those who had never met Omer, to show their support for the Neutra family and honor him.

גיבור ישראל
Hero of Israel

Liba Fruithandler is a guest writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since January 2025. Liba is currently a freshman at Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: lfruithandler28@schechterli.org