{"id":25464,"date":"2025-06-03T13:15:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T10:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/?p=25464"},"modified":"2025-06-03T12:52:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T09:52:20","slug":"a-life-of-love-and-service-omer-van-gelder-falls-in-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reganews.co.il\/en\/a-life-of-love-and-service-omer-van-gelder-falls-in-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"A Life of Love and Service: Omer Van Gelder Falls in Battle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Staff Sergeant Omer Van Gelder, 22, from Ma’ale Adumim, was killed yesterday (Monday) during combat in the northern Gaza Strip, along with two of his comrades from the Givati Brigade, Ofek Barhana and Lior Steinberg z\u201dl.<\/p>\n

A graduate of AMIT Eitan High School in Ma’ale Adumim, Omer was known from a young age as someone with a big heart. He began volunteering with Magen David Adom as a medic even before turning 18, took part in every social initiative, carried a guitar and a smile nearly everywhere he went, and was always the first to raise his hand when asked, \u201cWho wants to volunteer?\u201d<\/p>\n

A Commander Everyone Wanted to Follow<\/strong>
\nIn the IDF, Omer served as a combat soldier and commander in the Rotem Battalion, 9th Battalion of the Givati Brigade. There too, the stories about him were always the same: always taking initiative, always caring for others, always offering a kind word. His friends describe him as a commander who was attentive, principled, and deeply inspiring. Two days before he fell, he wrote to his girlfriend: \u201cWe\u2019re going out on a complicated mission. I love you.\u201d A simple, tender message that captured the loving sincerity of his character.<\/p>\n

This morning, AMIT Eitan High School issued a heartfelt message of mourning: \u201cOmer was a beloved graduate, a student with a great soul.\u201d Principal Daniel Bari wrote, \u201cOmer was a gifted young man, joyful and a joy to others. He wanted to give back to his country\u2014as a soldier, a commander, and a human being.\u201d Elior Ohana, his homeroom teacher, remembered him tearfully: \u201cHe was always the first to show up to any volunteer activity, guitar in hand. He loved, he listened, he gave. He was one of the finest fruits this land has produced.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elior Ohana, Omer\u2019s teacher, mourned his student with deep sorrow:<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe loss is beyond comprehension. Omer was one of the finest in this land. We lost a truly special student\u2014full of love, full of responsibility toward others. He was active in Magen David Adom and in every volunteering opportunity the school had. He was always the first to arrive, with the guitar he brought everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Memorial notice, announcing the funeral at 16:00 at Mt, Herzel | Photo: None<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Double Tragedy for One Family<\/strong>
\nOmer\u2019s death comes just six months after the loss of his relative, Omer Moshe Gealdor, who was killed in a drone strike in southern Lebanon. In a farewell post on social media, Ilan Geal-Dor wrote: \u201cAnother tragedy has struck our family. Soldier Omer Van Gelder is the son of our cousin, Haggai Van Gelder. He was a close relative of Omer Gealdor, who was killed about six months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n