Son of Daniella and Shimon. He was born on January 24, 1975 in Hadera. At the age of 18 months, he moved to Michmoret with his family. Shai came to the world after two daughters, Limor and Oranit, and thus won his name. Five years after his birth, his younger sister Liron was born. Shai began his studies at Netta kindergarten with his head crowned with golden curls. A year later, he moved to the Dina kindergarten where he finished kindergarten, and was ready to go to first grade. He attended elementary school at the Vitkin school in Kfar Vitkin, near his home. When he reached middle school, he moved to the “Son of Gurion” educational facility near the Ruppin College in Emek Hefer where he completed his biological studies. His teacher from high school recalls: “From the seventh grade, he returned to the Lev with his vitality, as well as his beauty and his study, and he was able to combine learning and fun in a way that few can do, and always with a smile on his lips. He helped, organized, helped, knew how to calm down in anger and to laugh at times of distress, during which time he turned out to be a real star – with stage presence and behind-the-scenes forces. ” From an early age, Shay belonged to the youth club at Michmoret and Mashavar became a club instructor. He guided himself and dealt with a large and difficult group and managed to sweep his apprentices in his enthusiasm when he organized various activities, turbulent soccer games, parties and trips, and around him always laughter and hustle. Even when he was already a soldier, he continued to take an interest in what was going on at the club. Shai loved freedom. He was full of energy, joy, and vitality. His friends say he had inner happiness and was able to relate to life with due ease. He danced well, loved parties and music, was surrounded by friends and returned to the girls’ hearts. With a sense of natural leadership in which he was endowed, he focused attention on him. From every situation he knew how to get out of hand. He loved to spend time in nature and to travel around the country while driving a tractor. Sport was for him a way of life and from a young age he spent many hours on the soccer and basketball fields. But his great love lay in the sea; most of Shai’s leisure hours were devoted to swimming, fishing, surfing and diving. Prior to joining the IDF, Shay received a summons to the “Shaldag” unit and the naval commando unit, but successfully completed his induction, but three months before his induction he was injured in an ATV accident and was forced to change course. After training and training, he was trained as a combat soldier and served in the engineering division of the Golani Brigade, where he left his friends and left for a course for infantry officers, at the end of which he was assigned as a commanding officer in the “Orev” unit. Shai served as a senior officer in the company, the operations officer, and served as an imitation of his subordinates and spent most of his army service in a “pumpkin” post in Lebanon and in training in the north and south of the country. Who would not lack equipment for his soldiers who serve in the Lebanese positions One is flowing with brown blood – Golani, and the other is flowing with green blood – Nahal. On vacation, he visited his wounded soldiers and made sure to visit the homes of his comrades-in-arms and keep them in close contact. During his service, Shai lost his best friend, Lieutenant-General Yishai Schechter, who was killed in a clash in Lebanon, and went to the cemetery with his friend’s parents. , Gave him his insignia and put it next to his pillow, and Shai had many dreams he hoped to realize after the liberation, and he planned to go backpacking in the Far East,A job, and as he puts it – “I want to feel a citizen.” He had to go to Lebanon for the last time and he gave up attending a family event to replace one of his crew, who was supposed to take a vacation. On the evening of the 28th of Shvat 577 (February 4, 1997), the helicopter disaster occurred when two Yasur helicopters collided over Moshav Shear Yashuv. The seventy-three fighters, who made their way to operational activity in Lebanon, were killed, including Lieutenant Shai. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Hadera. Survived by parents and three sisters. He was twenty-two years old when he fell. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak wrote: “Shai served as an operations officer in the engineering division of the Nahal Brigade, and was described by his commanders as an exemplary, professional and responsible officer who fulfilled every task he was assigned to the best. , Yet he was sensitive to the needs of his subordinates and stood out in his smile and the joy of life that so characterized him. The commander of the unit added to his family: “On the one hand, Shai was a tough commander who set high standards and demanded the most from his soldiers, while on the other he supported, encouraged and assisted, with a constant smile on his face. And as commander. ” The press extensively covered the helicopter disaster and published articles also included lines to Shai’s character. The Ruppin school established a commemorative corner in his memory and initiated the publication of a memorial album. The family, together with Beit Yad Labanim in Hadera, published a booklet in memory of Shai, including farewells of friends and relatives who had known him during his various periods of life. His aunt wrote in his memory: “You have the uprightness / your hard steps on the ground / in the darkness and in the sun.” / You have the courage to cut the mountain / you have the power to love / and all the juice of life to draw. (This page is part of the Yizkor memorial project held by the Ministry of Defense)
