Aner Shapira | |
|---|---|
ענר אליקים שפירא | |
 Street art of Shapira as parta mural of four heroes who died while trying to save others during theOctober 7 attack | |
| Born | (2001-03-12)March 12, 2001 Jerusalem, Israel |
| Died | October 7, 2023(2023-10-07) (aged 22) Re'im, Israel |
Aner Elyakim Shapira (Hebrew:ענר אליקים שפירא; March 12, 2001 – October 7, 2023) was an Israeli who was killed during theHamas-ledOctober 7 attacks onIsrael. During theNova music festival massacre, while taking cover in a shelter, Shapira threw back at Hamas militants 7 explosive grenades they had originally thrown into the shelter. Ultimately, he saved the lives of at least 7 people who survived the massacre. For his actions, he was referred to as a hero by Israeli and international media.[1][2]
Aner Elyakim Shapira was born on March 12, 2001. He was an alumnus of theHimmelfarb High School for boys in Jerusalem.[3] After graduating from high school Shapira attempted to enlist, but was injured at least twice prior to serving causing his service to be delayed for a little over a year.[4] At the time of his death, he was serving in an elite unit of theNahal Brigade in theIsrael Defense Forces.[2]
Shapira's grandfather,Hanina Ben-Menahem, is a professor-emeritus of Jewish law at theHebrew University.[5] His grandmother,Yemima Ben-Menahem, is also a professor-emeritus.[5] His great-grandfather wasHaim-Moshe Shapira, one of the signatories of theDeclaration of Independence of Israel.[2]
On October 7, 2023, Shapira went to theNova music festival in Reim with his friendHersh Goldberg-Polin. WhenHamas militants attacked the event, Shapira's commander called and told him to report to theSufa military base;[6] however, due to shooting, he and his friends ran into a publicmissile shelter inRe'im at approximately 7:55 am, hiding with about two dozen other people. According to the testimonies of the survivors, Shapira was the last to enter the shelter. Shapira reportedly attempted to inspire hope for those in the shelter by telling them that theIsraeli military would arrive soon. Shapira stood near the exit, telling those next to him that if the shelter was attacked by militants or grenades, he would throw the grenades back.[1]
For several minutes, Hamas militants shot bullets and fired rocket-propelled grenades into the shelter to kill those hiding, with Shapira ejecting the grenades from the shelter seven times; the eighth exploded in his hands, killing him.[2][1][7][8] On November 14, a video of this act appeared online; it had been captured by a windshield camera on a vehicle near the shelter.[9][10] Shapira's friend Goldberg-Polin, who also reportedly was throwing back grenades, lost his hand from a grenade explosion, but was able to tie a tourniquet around his arm and was subsequentlytaken hostage. At least seven people who were hiding in the shelter with Shapira ultimately survived the attack.[1][2]
Shapira's parents, Shira and Moshe, were unaware of what happened to their son until survivors of the event began calling them to tell them about their son's actions.[citation needed] One of the survivors hiding alongside Shapiro later noted, "Aner Shapira... saved our lives, and he deserves a medal of honor for being the angel who kept us safe".[2]
Shapira was buried on 13 October 2023 at a military cemetery onMount Herzl,[11] and his parents released one of his original songs shortly after.[6] His parents released additional music by Shapira in March 2024, with additions by Israeli musician Sha'anan Streett.[12]
During the first occurrence ofHanukkah following Shapira's death, Israeli poetZur Erlich [he] published a poem commemorating Shapira's actions and linked the eight candles and days of Hanukkah to the eight grenades thrown into the shelter in which Shapira was hiding.[13] In December 2023, the actions of Shapira were commemorated by theHapoel Jerusalem football team at the beginning of the match between them andHapoel Tel Aviv team during theIsrael Premier League. Shapira's song that was released shortly after his death was played at the start of the match with his paintings projected on screens around the stadium.[14]
