By Tova Winick
SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL — As children, we grow up hearing about superheroes from the movies- how Batman saves Gotham City from the Joker, how Spiderman saves Mary Jane from the Green Goblin, and how Superman saves civilians from disastrous fates.
I had the opportunity and honor to meet one of these superheroes in real life. Her name was Sahar Saudyan.
Sahar was an empath by nature. She felt others’ pain as if it were her own. Her sensitivity was rare, her compassion unbreakable and the way she cared for others was anomalous.
She was modest and humble and lived her life in an unpretentious manner. Her smile was radiant and her energy was contagious.
She was enthusiastic and passionate about life itself, and her positive outlook was infectious.
She was a true fighter. She stood for what was right, and wouldn’t sit for a split second until justice prevailed. She fought not only for those whom she loved, but also for those whom she didn’t even know. She loved her country with all her heart and fought for her, even at the price of her own life.
Sahar followed in the footsteps of her dear older brother Dvir, whom she so highly looked upon, and drafted into the Iron Dome unit. She signed an extra two years in the army in order to be in a combat unit and become a commanding officer. After many challenges and roadblocks along the way, Sahar finally did it. She became a first (and later on second) lieutenant in the Israeli Defense Force. She was a mother to her soldiers, caring for their every last need, educating them with true values and morals, and training them to perform and succeed.
Saturday morning, the seventh day of the month of October, the world lost Sahar, our most valuable superhero.
That morning, at 6:30am, Sahar was on duty as the commander of the operational control center of the Iron Dome. She was taken by surprise, as was the entire state of Israel, when hundreds of rockets were shot into the country, with no prior knowledge, endangering the lives of many. But Sahar was nonetheless as ready as ever to take action, command, and defend her country.
That morning she led her team into the so-called battlefield, intercepting over one hundred rockets, saving an unimaginable amount of lives. But that wasn’t enough for Sahar. After the continuous rocket fire, the Iron Dome launcher in the field needed to be refilled with ammunition. Despite the grave danger due to the infiltration of hundreds of Hamas terrorists in the area, Sahar understood the importance of this mission. If the ammunition wouldn’t be renewed, rockets would fall, and citizens would be hurt. Sahar jumped at the opportunity and led her team to the field. During the mission, Sahar and her team were attacked and killed by Hamas terrorists.
Today, as we part ways and say goodbye to our hero, Sahar, we hear an endless amount of breathtaking stories, and we learn that Sahar was more than just a hero.
Sahar was a true friend. She was an extraordinary sister. She was a loving daughter.
She loved her siblings, Dor, Dvir, Stav and Dolev with all her heart. She was a best friend and true companion to her mom and dad, Helen and David.
Sahar chose happiness. Sahar chose good deeds. Sahar chose compassion, love and grace. Sahar chose to give of herself for the benefit of her country and those whom she loved.
She didn’t have to be a combat soldier. She didn’t have to be a commander. She didn’t have to be an officer. She didn’t have to risk her life for the sake of others. She chose to. Despite the danger, the fear, the sacrifice. She chose to.
In the Hebrew language, Sahar means crescent. The moon is often shadowed by the earth, but the crescent is always shining. Sahar shined a pure, bright and eager, although the upmost modest light amidst the darkness. Everyday, even after her departure, her light continues to shine amongst everyone and anyone who comes across her story. And now, every night she continuously shines above us, amongst the twinkling stars in the sky.
Sahar- We love you, we miss you, and we are so incredibly proud of you.
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Tova Winick is a former San Diegan now living in Israel.
God takes the brightest stars and that day the moonlight was jealous. May Sahar 9thcontinue to shine in your heart. May her family and friends remember her and find a way to be comforted.
It’s so difficult to write something like this but you Tova are also a hero to portray, in your words, who Sahar was and represented so elequently and clearly with your own sorrow. I never heard of this special person but now her memory is imbeded into mine. Thank you for sharing her life with us. I am so sorry for your personal loss and Klal Yisrael’s loss. Please stay aafe and may Hashem protect you and all of our soldiers and civilians and look foward to a quick victory for our promised inheritance.
May her memory be a blessing.