After three years at the flight academy, she signed to serve another nine years and became a combat navigator. Her flights were used as examples for other aspiring pilots. Her dream was to one day teach them herself as a flight academy instructor.

That was the other side of Tamar: always wanting to lead, to be there for others. She was the embodiment of “arvut hadadit.”  And yet she was never afraid. She told me once that she always felt safe up in the air and while flying missions, she prayed for her fellow soldiers on the ground.

Then came operation protective edge.  She “had our backs” as she defended our homeland. She flew so many missions, she was exhausted. so afterwards, Tamar decided to take a well-deserved vacation: a hiking trip to Nepal with friends. Then, on Erev Simchat Torah, we heard the news: a horrible snowstorm had hit the region where Tamar and her friends were hiking. We lost contact. The hours ticked away and we feared the worst.

On the evening of October 14th, after long hours of struggling in the snow, Tamar lost her life to hypothermia. We heard that under the terrible conditions of the storm, she had become a company commander of her group. She shouted out orders, cleared paths, and warmed the bodies of the friends she was determined to save. Thanks to Tamar, two young women are alive today.

Soon after Tamar’s death, we learned that her commander had chosen her as the outstanding fighter of her squadron. She never returned to hear the commendation she earned so well.

Our family has gone through deep sorrow, including our youngest daughter, Naama. But thanks to the FIDF, she has had time to heal among friends who understand and feel the same, at your LEGACY camp.