Amiad Yisrael

“Our baby, Amiad Yisrael, managed to unite the Jewish people in the three days he was alive, something most people don’t manage to do during their entire lifetime.”

By STEVE LINDE
Shira and Amichai Ish-Ran on their wedding day (photo credit: Courtesy)
Shira and Amichai Ish-Ran on their wedding day
(photo credit: Courtesy)
On December 16, Shira and Amichai Ish-Ran held a news conference, together with their parents, at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center, where they were treated for serious wounds sustained in a terrorist shooting that injured six other people outside Ofra a week before – at the end of the festival of Hanukkah. Shira, who was 30-weeks pregnant, was targeted by the terrorist in the drive-by shooting, and rushed to the hospital by an ambulance as a Magen David Adom medic successfully stemmed the constant bleeding. At the hospital, she had an emergency C-section, and her baby was born in critical condition. Tragically, he died three days later, and was buried on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, after being named Amiad Yisrael.
“I lost a lot of blood and I needed to receive a lot of blood,” said Shira, 21, who thanked God, the hospital staff, the paramedics, the blood donors and the whole nation. “I feel that the people of Israel are supporting me spiritually with their prayers and strengthening me physically. Most of my blood now is not even mine.”
Amichai said that the Jewish people should learn the importance of unity from their baby’s death. “Our baby, Amiad Yisrael, managed to unite the Jewish people in the three days he was alive, something most people don’t manage to do during their entire lifetime,” said Amichai, who is also 21. “During the three days our baby lived, he united us – secular, religious, Haredi, right and left wing, who came to support us. I’m proud to be part of this nation.
Shaare Zedek’s Dr. Alon Schwarz told journalists that Shira needs to undergo further surgery and a long period of rehabilitation, but he believed she would be able to bear more children in the future. He voiced the hope that both she and Amichai, who was shot three times in the leg, would make a full recovery.
As the baby’s funeral was held on a Wednesday night, IDF forces raided the Palestinian village of Kobar and killed one of the suspected terrorists, Salih Barghouti, while arresting four other suspects in the attack, which wounded seven people. At the funeral, Amichai’s father, Rabbi Rafael Ish-Ran, said, “It is written in Halakha that a name must be given to the baby, so your parents have given a name, which is of great significance and symbolizes everything – Amiad Yisrael, our people Israel is here forever. The people of Israel is here forever. Make no mistake. We are crying but we are not broken. We will never be moved from here. Amiad Yisrael!”
That Friday, Shira wrote a letter in Hebrew to the people of Israel: “On this Shabbat, in the name of Amichai, myself, and our Amiad Yisrael, all parents should give an additional long hug to their children, and tell them that you love them no matter what...”
Shira’s parents, Chaim and Liora Silberstein, expressed their thanks for the outpouring of support and urged the Israeli government to take tough action to stop terrorism. Chaim – a South African immigrant – said the terrorist’s bullet that hit Shira’s abdomen had miraculously exited without causing irreparable damage, and her life was consequently saved by her husband, medics and doctors. She and Amichai had married just nine months ago. “They are simply a wonderful couple, and we are grateful that their lives were saved in a Hanukkah miracle,” he said.
Chaim’s wife, Liora, with whom he has seven children, added, “Our government must know: It is truly unthinkable that sweet, innocent children are shot at with impunity. We cannot accept such a situation.”
Israel’s government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, should heed the powerful message conveyed by this noble family of faith, courage and strength.