"After Uri's Death, We Discovered a List He Wrote - and We Were Astounded"

"Our Uri was killed on Simchat Torah, at five in the afternoon, in Kisufim," recounts Yehoshua Shani, father of the soldier Uri Shani. "This happened after he had fought for an entire day as a platoon commander," he adds. "He and his soldiers were in Kisufim when the surprise attack erupted, and they were among the first to confront the terrorists, with Uri neutralizing dozens until his ammunition ran out."

Uri is one of hundreds of IDF soldiers who have fallen so far in the 'Iron Swords' war. Every soldier has a life story and a mourning family behind them, but Uri, as his father emphasizes, continues to reveal more moving and inspirational stories as time passes. Among these stories, the "list" found inside Uri's prayer book has circulated widely since its discovery, a list detailing his aspirations and seemingly summarizing his life story.

Uri wrote:"I want to fall in love with the Torah"

"We live in Kiryat Arba, and during Simchat Torah, we were entirely unaware of what was happening in the south and with Uri," his father begins. "We were at home, like all of Israel, and heard that the situation was challenging, praying for salvation. Only on the night after Shabbat did we speak with our eldest son, who had received a WhatsApp message from Uri during the holiday, seeking help. Uri had sent his location from Kisufim, later messaging that afternoon: 'We are still alive.' When contact was not renewed after the holiday, we worried greatly. Only on Sunday did our eldest manage to reach one of Uri's soldiers, who confirmed seeing Uri lifeless, bringing the reality home. The official military notice arrived only Monday afternoon."

It's been nearly two weeks since... What can you tell us about Uri?

"Some people are only recognized as extraordinary after their passing, but we always knew Uri was one-of-a-kind," shares Yehoshua. "From his childhood, he had a remarkable leadership quality and a presence that matched his name—'Uri.' Everywhere he went, whether as a young child or in yeshiva, he was a source of light and encouragement to all.

"This week, we uncovered writings he made not long ago. These incredible notes about his mission as part of Am Yisrael detail his personal goals: 1. To build a large family 2. To tirelessly advocate for Israel's settlement 3. To contribute to the nation's security from a foundation rooted in Torah. Moreover, he emphasized: 'This mission is not for status or honor, but for genuine service.'

"During the shiva, I stumbled upon Uri's Rosh Hashanah Machzor and, accidentally flipping through, a paper listing his goals fell out under the header 'About Myself.' We read and were amazed. We believe he wrote it at age 18, capturing his identity and intentions vividly."

What are some of the things he wrote there?

"Uri outlined life goals on that list. Among them, he noted 'fall in love with the Torah,' a meaningful phrase for an 18-year-old who seeks not just to love but to continuously fall in love. Uri also wrote in bold letters: 'Love every Jew,' and near the list's end, 'utilize every minute.' This was chilling but reflected the Uri we knew—he maximized every moment of his life, evident in his earlier years at home before marriage. During his elite 'Egoz' unit training, including exhaustive weeks of sleepless nights, he still engaged with youths on Fridays, led projects, prayed at the Cave of the Patriarchs on Shabbat, studied with a study partner at night and in the mornings, and convened young couples for a settlement initiative post-Shabbat. Despite passing at 22 and a half, Uri achieved remarkably, living a full and purposeful life, and even founded a family and welcomed a son. That wasn't taken for granted. While we always knew he was special, we couldn't have fully appreciated his scope until hearing more stories since his fall, illustrating just how fortunate we were."

To cry but not to whine

What gives you strength to overcome this immense loss?

"Undeniably, these are tough times, but our faith as a family offers resilience. We know Uri lived heroically and fell in sanctification of Hashem, the highest of honors. We believe he now sits with Rabbi Akiva before the heavenly throne—what more could we as parents ask? A rabbi's words encouraged us, suggesting these martyrs' sole concern would be the sorrow left behind, motivating us to continue Uri's path, blessing and not despairing, strengthening those in need. This was why, post-shiva, I, my wife, and our daughter-in-law, Uri’s widow, visited another bereaved family, knowing Uri knew their son in the army, out of great commitment to continue Uri’s legacy.

"The pain is immense, yet we cannot become consumed by it," Yehoshua adds. "Tears and mourning have their place, but life must continue, although it's not always easy. Blessedly, joys also sustain us; recently, our grandson celebrated his bar mitzvah, a moment encapsulating his special bond with Uri. Even as his father, my son-in-law, couldn’t attend due to serving in the northern border, we ensured it was a joyous celebration, continually thanking Hashem for our family. This is our life mantra: to mourn the son's loss yet persevere to illuminate and uplift in faith, toward the redemption we so pray comes speedily, Amen."

Yehoshua also has a special request for those reading: adopt one of the small commitments from his son Uri HY"D's list, in his memory and merit.