Aner Elyakim Shapira (Hebrew: ענר אליקים שפירא; March 12, 2001 – October 7, 2023) was an Israeli who was killed during the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. During the Nova music festival massacre, while taking cover in a shelter, Shapira threw back at Hamas militants 7 explosive grenades they had originally thrown into the shelter. Ultimately, he saved the lives of at least 7 people who survived the massacre. For his actions, he was referred to as a hero by Israeli and international media.[1][2]
Aner Shapira | |
|---|---|
ענר אליקים שפירא | |
 A street painting of Aner Shapira, part of a mural of four heros who died while trying to save others during the October 7 attack on Israel | |
| Born | March 12, 2001 Jerusalem, Israel |
| Died | October 7, 2023 (aged 22) Re'im, Israel |
Personal
Shapira was an alumnus of the Himmelfarb religious high school for boys in Jerusalem.[3] After graduating from high school Shapira attempted to enlist, but was injured at least twice prior to serving causing his service to be delayed for a little over a year.[4] At the time of his death, he was serving in an elite unit of the Nahal Brigade in the Israel Defense Forces.[2]
Shapira's grandfather, Hanina Ben-Menahem, was a professor of Jewish law at the Hebrew University.[5] His grandmother, Yemima Ben-Menachem, was also a professor.[5] His great-grandfather was Haim-Moshe Shapira, one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence of Israel.[2]
Events of October 7, 2023
On October 7, 2023, Shapira went to the Nova music festival in Reim with his friend Hersh Goldberg-Polin. When Hamas militants attacked the event, Shapira's commander called and told him to report to the Sufa military base;[6] however, due to shooting, he and his friends ran into a public missile shelter in Re'im at approximately 7:55 am, hiding with about two dozen other people. According to the testimonies of the survivors, Shapira was the last to enter the shelter. Shapira reportedly attempted to inspire hope for those in the shelter by telling them that the Israeli military would arrive soon. Shapira stood near the exit, telling those next to him that if the shelter was attacked by militants or grenades, he would throw the grenades back.[1]
For several minutes, Hamas militants shot bullets and fired rocket-propelled grenades into the shelter to kill those hiding, with Shapira ejecting the grenades from the shelter seven times; the eighth exploded in his hands, killing him.[2][1][7][8] On November 14, a video of this act appeared online; it had been captured by a windshield camera on a vehicle near the shelter.[9][10] Shapira's friend Goldberg-Polin, who also reportedly was throwing back grenades, lost his hand from a grenade explosion, but was able to tie a tourniquet around his arm and was subsequently taken hostage. At least seven people who were hiding in the shelter with Shapira ultimately survived the attack.[1][2]
Shapira's parents, Shira and Moshe, were unaware of what happened to their son until survivors of the event began calling them to tell them about their son's actions.[citation needed] One of the survivors hiding alongside Shapiro later noted, "Aner Shapira... saved our lives, and he deserves a medal of honor for being the angel who kept us safe".[2]
Commemoration
Shapira was buried on 13 October 2023 at a military cemetery on Mount Herzi,[11] and his parents released one of his original songs shortly after.[6] His parents released additional music by Shapira in March 2024, with additions by Israeli musician Sha'anan Streett.[12]
During the first occurrence of Hanukkah following Shapira's death, Israeli poet Zur Erlich published a poem commemorating Shapira's actions and linked the eight candles and days of Hanukkah to the eight granades thrown into the shelter in which Shapira was hiding.[13] In December 2023, the actions of Shapira were commemorated by the Hapoel Jerusalem football team at the beginning of the match between them and Hapoel Tel Aviv team during the Israel Premier League. Shapira's song that was released shortly after his death was played at the start of the match with his paintings projected on screens around the stadium.[14]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Gavin, Christopher (November 14, 2023). "Video Shows Hero Israeli Soldier Save Festival-Goers from Hamas Attack by Throwing Back 7 Grenades Before Being Killed by 8th". The Messenger. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Staff Sgt. Aner Elyakim Shapiro, 22: Unarmed, he fended off 7 grenades". Times of Israel. October 18, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ Cashman, Greer (December 2, 2023). "Grapevine: Fallen alumni". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ "בידיים חשופות / אבי יששכרוף על סמ"ר ענר שפירא ז"ל | גיבורים 2023 • ידיעות אחרונות". w.ynet.co.il. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Colleagues Mourning Deaths in War Against Hamas". H-Net. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ a b "שירה, אמו של ענר שפירא ז"ל, מנציחה את הטבח: "אני עוסקת במורשת, אבל לא מורשת של פעם אלא מורשת של עכשיו"". Israel Hayom. November 15, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "История 22-летнего израильтянина, который спас других от ХАМАСа ценой собственной жизни". Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Brooks, David (May 22, 2024). "How Do the Families of the Hamas Hostages Endure the Agony?". The Atlantic. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- ^ "Невероятный героизм: Анер Шапира отбивался от террористов их собственными гранатами (видео)". November 14, 2023. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ "Видео запечатлело героизм Анера Шапиро". www.7kanal.co.il. November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ "מתי והיכן מתקיימות הלוויות של הנרצחים והנופלים במלחמה". www.makorrishon.co.il. October 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ שרון, מתן (March 12, 2024). "צוואה מוזיקלית: גיבור נובה ענר שפירא ז"ל זוכה לאלבום בכורה". צוואה מוזיקלית: גיבור נובה ענר שפירא ז"ל זוכה לאלבום בכורה | טיים אאוט (in Hebrew). Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "אֲסִירֵי תִּקְוָה". www.makorrishon.co.il. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "הפועל ירושלים הנציחה את ענר שפירא ז"ל". ONE - מספר אחת בספורט. December 26, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2024.