Miriam Peretz is one of Israel’s most revered public figures, known for extraordinary resilience in the face of profound personal loss.
Over 25,000 Israelis have died serving in the IDF, giving their life for their country.
That means 25,000 families who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
But several Israeli families have tragically lost more than one son in military service.
Here are their unbelievable stories:
The Peretz Family
Miriam Peretz is one of Israel’s most revered public figures, known for her extraordinary resilience and unwavering spirit in the face of profound personal loss.
She lost two sons in combat while serving in the IDF: Uriel Peretz, her eldest, was killed in 1998 during an ambush in South Lebanon.
Shortly after Uriel’s death, her husband Eliezer Peretz passed away from illness.
Then Eliraz Peretz, her second son, was killed in 2010 during clashes in Gaza.
Despite these tragedies, Miriam chose to become a public speaker and educator, focusing on Zionism, national unity, and coping with grief.
She is also the author of Miriam’s Song, a bestselling memoir that chronicles her journey through loss and hope.
She has spoken to thousands of IDF soldiers and youth across Israel.
Miriam’s speeches are now part of Israel’s educational curriculum, and she’s often referred to as a “mother of the nation.”
Her message centers on faith, resilience, and the power of choosing life even in the shadow of grief.
Peretz was awarded the Israel Prize in 2018 for lifetime achievement and contribution to Israeli society.
The Granot family
Rabbi Tamir Granot, Rosh Yeshiva of Orot Shaul in Tel Aviv, lost his son Amitai Granot, a 24-year-old IDF officer and yeshiva student, in battle against Hezbollah on October 15, 2023.
He was killed while defending Shtula, a moshav near the Lebanese border, during a Hezbollah incursion that followed the outbreak of war triggered by Hamas’s invasion from Gaza the day before.
Tzvi was just 24 years old when he died, and his final weeks were described by his father, Rabbi Tamir Granot, as “the peak of his happiness.”
Shortly before his death, Tzvi had proposed to his fiancée, Roni, and their engagement was a moment of profound joy for both families.
In a remarkable act of emotional strength and spiritual conviction, Rabbi Tamir Granot later officiated Roni’s wedding to another man nearly two years after Tzvi’s passing. Roni herself had requested that Rabbi Granot lead the ceremony.
The ceremony was filled with bittersweet emotion, as Rabbi Granot described feeling both “terrible loss” and “joy” at seeing Roni choose life and move forward.
His older brother Tzvi Granot had also fallen in military service years earlier.
The Amar Family
The Amar family, a Druze family from the Galilee village of Julis, also lost two sons.
Lt. Col. Azzam Amar was a senior officer in the IDF who died in a tragic helicopter crash in 1997, known as the “Helicopter Disaster,” which claimed the lives of 73 soldiers.
His brother, Staff Sgt. Salim Amar, had died years earlier during his own military service.
The Amar family’s double bereavement became a symbol of the Druze community’s deep commitment to Israel’s defense.
The Maman Family
The Maman family lost sons in both Lebanon and Gaza.
The Maman Nonprofit, founded by Sara Raoof Jacobs, is a women-led organization that supports IDF families, survivors, and displaced communities.
The organization provides trauma therapy, childcare, and community support to families of fallen soldiers and has supported over 700 displaced families and 200 IDF units.
