Lives lost, and renewed
When messaging captures and inspires heroism
Few marketing campaigns have such inherently uplifting messaging possibilities as those for organ donations. Even for non-donors, the slogans are inescapably inspiring:
“The greatest gift is life – thank you for passing it on.”
“A hero is someone who donates life.”
“Make your goodbye someone’s hello.”
Recently, the phrase that resonated most is, “Live twice, donate once.” It struck a chord because it actually understated the impact made by two – seemingly totally different – young Israelis last month.
Israel Defense Forces Captain Shahar Gamla, 23, fell in battle in southern Lebanon in early June. His bereaved parents, Leah and Yishai, believing that “there is nothing greater than organ donation,” promptly translated that conviction into life-saving action. Within moments of succumbing to his injuries, Shahar’s organs were rushed to three different hospitals; within 24 hours, his heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver were transplanted into grateful recipients, ages 7-69. Thankfully, all those appreciative patients are doing well.
Photo with permission of Jewish Chicago Jewish Magazine.
Shahar’s parents were still sitting shiva when their selflessness was already bringing tears of joy to others. But Shahar is still not done doing good. His skin was donated to the National Skin Bank, where it will be used to heal burn victims, and his corneas await transplantation.
Speaking afterwards of the organ donation decision, Leah said, “It lets Shahar live on in other people.” Then, exuding consummate grace, her message to those they helped was, “with joy and great love.”
As Shahar’s organs were saving lives, another remarkable donation was taking place just down the hall: a young Israeli Arab girl’s heart was giving an even younger Israeli boy life anew.
Hospitalized since the fall of 2025, 3-year-old Rafael required an external machine to serve as his heart. He was connected to—a prisoner of—this machine 24/7.
Having lost hope of receiving a compatible donor heart in Israel, and just two hours before Rafael and his parents were to leave for a flight to New York hoping for a match there, the miraculous news arrived: a matching heart had been found within Israel.
The donor was 6-year-old Shabaa Badir from the Arab town of Kafr Qasim. She had tragically died of an aneurysm during a recent family visit to Eilat. Her heart now beats inside Rafael.
Photo with permission of Jewish Chicago Jewish Magazine.
Shabaa’s gift to Rafael carries another bittersweet layer: the surgeon who transplanted her heart had lost his own son in Gaza last year. Like Shahar’s and Shabaa’s parents, he refused to let unbearable loss harden his heart or deter him from life-saving work.
Like Shahar, Shabaa is a true mega-donor: her other organs have also been successfully implanted into three other children: a 9-year-old girl in Ramla, a 2-year-old boy in Jerusalem, and an 18-year-old girl in Lod.
The loss of Shahar and Shabaa is unspeakable. Yet the gifts they left for others speak volumes. It is quite the message.
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Interested in learning more about Judaism and organ donation? Visit www.ematai.org