Sean Nissim Carmeli, son of Dalia and Alon, was born on May 12, 1993, in Texas, USA, and was the younger brother of Gal and Or. At the age of 15, Shawn moved to Israel with his family in 2008. They settled in Ra’anana, though they spent part of each year in the U.S. to manage their family business.
Alon described his son Sean as a happy and carefree young man who enjoyed sports, especially football. He had many friends and was deeply connected to Judaism, having received a Jewish education in Texas and attended Chabad summer camps. Rabbi Asher Hecht from Texas remembered Shawn as a role model and natural leader at Chabad’s Gan Israel camp, where he set an example for others. The Carmeli family had a strong presence in the local Jewish community.
After relocating to Ra’anana, Shawn enrolled in Ostrovsky High School. Principal Yaffe Lehbi described him as a good student who integrated well into the school. Rina Price, a teacher, noted that despite the challenges of moving to a new country, Shawn excelled in his studies and remained close to his friends. He was passionate about sports and a loyal fan of Maccabi Haifa.
Determined to serve in a meaningful capacity, Shawn enlisted in the IDF’s Golani Brigade in 2012, completing his dream of joining a combat unit. Despite his mother’s concerns, he insisted on fulfilling his duty as a fighter. During his service, he met Eden Bein, a fellow new immigrant and soldier. The two became inseparable, sharing a mutual understanding rooted in their similar backgrounds.
In June 2014, when tensions between Israel and Hamas escalated, Shawn’s battalion took part in Operation Tzuk Eitan in Gaza. Despite suffering an ankle injury, Shawn refused to sit out the conflict and returned to his unit. He fell in battle on July 20, 2014, while heroically defending his comrades.
Shawn was posthumously awarded the rank of first sergeant and is laid to rest in Haifa’s military cemetery. The song “Twenty Thousand People” was composed in his memory, inspired by the thousands who attended his funeral. To honor his legacy, Shawn’s family established annual soccer tournaments and created “Free Spirit,” an association for youth empowerment. Other commemorative projects include a scholarship fund at Tel Aviv University for lone soldiers and a Torah scroll placed in Haifa.
Shawn Carmeli will always be remembered as a symbol of unity, courage, and unwavering dedication to his homeland.
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