In memory of Captain Eitan Oster

When Eitan went off to battle, we were terrified of losing him. We knew he was the kind of soldier who would charge forward without hesitation. But the feeling was that it couldn’t happen – everyone who knew Eitan felt he had a great future ahead of him. Eitan was a true Zionist leader. Eitan was a rare individual: he always paid attention to the smallest details and always saw the person standing in front of him. With a captivating smile and kind eyes, he managed to touch the hearts of everyone he met – whether it was a close friend, a soldier on his team, or a youth group participant. As an educator, a commander, and a person, he believed in the importance of leading by example. "What matters most for a commander," he wrote in his notebook, "is to set a personal example." And he lived this belief in every step he took. "A true warrior fights not because of hatred for what’s in front of him, but out of love for what’s behind him," he said in the last video he sent to his family before entering Lebanon for the final time. That’s what he believed, and that’s how he lived. Eitan was killed in battle in Lebanon on the 2nd of October, 2024, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. He left behind a family and friends who deeply miss and love him. After Eitan's death, we realized that we were given a mission – to continue his path and ensure there would be more "Eitans”. To achieve this, we established together the "Ruach Eitan" (Eitan's Spirit) organization: we will reach high schools, pre-military academies, and campuses to teach Zionism and leadership in Eitan’s way. Instead of one leader, we will create hundreds and thousands of "Eitans”. We’ve already begun, and we plan to launch our educational initiatives in the coming school year. These days, we are developing content with professionals and engaging with various institutions and education networks. Our goals include: • A national program for fostering Zionist leadership and preparing high school students for the army. • A pre-military theoretical program to strengthen the "why" – building knowledge of the heritage of our people and land. • Connecting to Zionist and Jewish heritage through Eitan's story within the IDF. • A program to develop Zionist leadership in universities. For this to happen, we need your partnership. Help us honor Eitan's memory and restore to Israel's next generation what it has lost. Every donation will go directly to these goals. We invite you to join us in Eitan's journey – in his spirit. Together, we will continue the path Eitan began. Together, we will keep Eitan’s spirit alive and ensure that the values and education he cherished so deeply will continue to resonate. You are welcome to read about Eitan through the eyes of his older brother, Eliq: Facebook post link Memorial website for Eitan: Eitan's Memorial Website If you'd like to learn more about the organization and its projects or have other ways to help, please get in touch: Meitar – 0556664106 *Donations are processed through the “Egoz” organization to enable tax deductions.