Shapira, Yair

Yair, son of Bracha and Ephraim, was born on November 24, 1953 in Afula. He was educated at the elementary school in Givat Oz and later attended the Shomria High School in Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek. As a high school student, Yair became acquainted with the dance world and since then has been inextricably linked to this art. He began his career as a dancer in the inter-kibbutz band, but wanted to learn the art of dance in regular and regular studies. Even then he decided to see dance not only as a hobby for leisure, but as a vocation and a profession. He was sent to the Ramat Aviv branch of the Hashomer Hatzair movement and was able to combine the training work with the teaching of dance theory. He studied at the “Rubin” dance school in Jerusalem, at the studio of Mia Arbatova, and was finally accepted to the Daughter of-Dor Dance Company, where they began to recognize the great talent he has. After a while he joined the dancers of the Batsheva Dance Company, where he was able to study with excellent professionals and was given the opportunity to study and advance. Together with his band members, he toured the United States and began buying him a permanent place in the band’s performances. Yair was a handsome young man. In his noble figure and sensitive soul he embodied the qualities of an artist whose great love is life and beauty. He succeeded in instilling in his students at the Hashomer Hatzair branch something of his own beauty and special views. In the long evenings they had spent together he had revealed ways of thinking about love, about human relations, sensitivity, family, beauty and gentleness, and art and values ​​of life. He saw life as a great privilege granted to man and he wanted to exhaust them and to make as much of them as possible. In the dance Yair found the way to express his personality, his thoughts and his feelings. “You are not a hero of wars, a hero of life / with a slightly disrespectful and forgiving smile. You have freedom and beauty for the whole world / here you are above us all / long legs to sing things / hands to words.” His downfall in the battle interrupted the life of a talented artist, whose future lay ahead. It is difficult for his friends to feel that Yair, the lover of life, is not the animal. Yair was drafted into the IDF in mid-February 1973. He was assigned to serve in the Golani Brigade, although his military service hindered his development in the field of dance, Together with their comrades in the Golani Brigade, in the battles of containment and infiltration against the Syrians in the Golan Heights. On the 22nd of Tishrei 5734 (22.10.1973), Yair’s battalion set out to conquer the Hermon post, which was held by the Syrians. In the difficult and bitter battle that ensued, Yair was injured and killed while he was helping his injured friend. He was brought to eternal rest in the cemetery in Givat Oz. Survived by his parents, three brothers and three sisters. After his fall, he was promoted to corporal. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, the unit commander wrote: “Yair fell shortly before completing the course for commanders. During his time in our unit he was able to contribute greatly to his company and was exemplary to his comrades with his great devotion and carrying out the battalion’s tasks. As he embroidered extensive plans for the future … fell. “In the evening in memory of Yair, which took place in the regional auditorium of Megiddo, the Daughter of-Sheva and Daughter of-Dor dance troupes joined together for the first time in their history, “Daughter of-Dor” performed the dance “And It Was After …”, which was specially designed for the memory of Yair by his teacher and friend Jean Hill Sagan, and his friends from Kibbutz Givat Oz published a booklet in his memory of teachers, His character.