Miriam Peretz, whose two sons Uriel and Eliraz died in combat 12 years apart while serving in the Israeli army, recently won the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement for “strengthening the Jewish-Israeli spirit.”
During her speech at the ceremony, she said she had turned her grief into a “new melody.” Peretz has devoted herself to giving inspirational, educational talks to students and soldiers, including to students at AMIT schools, including Yeshivat AMIT Eliraz, which is named for her son.
The prize committee noted that since her sons’ deaths, Peretz “has dedicated her life to education and instilling Zionist Jewish heritage, undertaking lecture tours for young people and Israeli soldiers, as well as traveling to communities around the world to light our way and strengthen our hand. Beyond that, Miriam has been assisting bereaved families and army wounded.”
Education Minister Naftali Bennett, meanwhile said, Peretz “has dedicated her life to educational activity. Miriam didn’t choose her difficult life circumstances, but she has chosen to live and enliven an entire people. She is the mother of us all.”
Students at Yeshivat AMIT Eliraz in Petach Tikva undertook a special journey in the fallen soldier’s footsteps, during which they learned about the army, Torah, and love for the people and the land of Israel.
Watch this inspiring video in which she explains how she gets the strength to go on.
