In their own words: The memorial stickers of the IDF’s fallen

It was during a family vacation in Rome’s Jewish Quarter that I found myself transfixed by a wall covered with stickers. Not the typical tourist graffiti, but faces, names, and quotes of Israeli soldiers who fell in the Swords of Iron War. We had traveled there seeking a brief respite from my husband’s months of reserve duty and the constant tension of war. Yet even thousands of miles from home, they were there — our fallen heroes — leaving signposts for us to follow.

These stickers have become ubiquitous across Israel’s landscape. On electricity poles, bus stops, and car bumpers, their messages call out to us: “Be good,” “Live for me,” “Don’t forget to smile when you wake up.” For the bereaved families, these are not merely commemorative phrases — they’re clarion calls to action, crystallized voices asking us to continue their journey.

Stickers at Hashalom Rail Station, Tel Aviv, December 19, 2025. (Times of Israel)

Since the beginning of the Swords of Iron War, this phenomenon has spread throughout Israel. Phrases like “How can I help?” “What can I give to my people?” “Mom, I’m walking through history,” and “Now it’s my turn” have become part of our visual vocabulary. Carefully chosen by grieving families, these words immortalize their loved ones by keeping their values alive, urging us to transform memory into meaningful action.

Stickers at Hashalom Rail Station, Tel Aviv, December 19, 2025. (Times of Israel)

That evening in Rome, these voices called to me, too.

This call led to a partnership between HILMA (High-Tech for the Community) — a social-tech nonprofit developing technological solutions in health, education, and welfare — and Yad Labanim, the organization commemorating Israel’s fallen soldiers.

From the site: https://stickers.org.il/ (courtesy)

Together, we created “Drishat Shalom” (Regards), an initiative that transforms the words of the fallen into living, breathing values. It shifts us from passive remembrance to active engagement that builds a better society. The project lets us learn about the fallen through their words, allowing their messages to serve as a testament for us all.

(courtesy)

The digital platform enables anyone to select a sticker that resonates with them, learn about the person it commemorates, and receive suggestions for actions that embody the values it represents. You can adopt these values in your life and share with the bereaved family, through a personal letter, how their loved one’s words have influenced you and what you have done in their spirit.

Consider Captain Itai Maor, a 23-year-old from Rosh Ha’ayin who commanded a platoon in the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion. He fell on October 7th, while fighting dozens of terrorists near Netiv HaAsara. The sticker his family created bears his words: “Let’s sit and talk.” His memorial page suggests creating dialogue circles between different segments of society or initiating quiet family time for conversation without phones or external distractions.

Or Amit Bechari, who fell in southern Gaza. His family shares that he always strived for excellence, achieved all his goals with dignity and respect, and — most importantly — always with a smile. Visitors to his memorial page can set reminders to stop three times daily and smile at someone, consciously doing so in Amit’s memory.

Many users share with the families the small acts they have adopted, the light they are spreading because of the fallen soldiers’ legacies. When this happens, it strengthens not just the families but all of us — as individuals, as a nation, as a society, and as a community.

“Drishat Shalom” isn’t just about remembering the past. It looks forward toward a stronger, more cohesive, values-driven Israeli society — one that includes Jews worldwide, who build their futures upon the rich legacy left by those who no longer are with us.

These stickers are not just words, but a roadmap to a better society. Each phrase left by the fallen serves as a torch illuminating our path forward. Through “Drishat Shalom,” each of us is invited to participate in a form of commemoration that transcends mere monuments — a living, breathing tribute that impacts the world. Because ultimately, as our fallen have taught us through their words that the way to honor their memories is to embody the values they lived by and make them part of us.

At the heart of this initiative are the national service volunteers of HILMA, who blend technological innovation with meaningful social contribution. They developed the digital platform, collected the stickers, and connected words to actions — believing this is the most powerful way to commemorate the fallen: by making their values an integral part of Israeli society’s daily life.

We are currently seeking partners to help translate the website content into English and share it with Jewish communities worldwide, both to strengthen education and to counter antisemitism by presenting a positive image of our fallen warriors. We invite you, the reader, to visit the “Drishat Shalom” website, choose a sticker, and adopt a mission. Their words deserve to live on through our actions.

Because in every corner of Israel’s public space — and now beyond — these simple stickers remind us that remembrance is not passive. It is an active choice to carry forward the light of those who no longer can.

From the site: https://stickers.org.il/ (courtesy)