Two-Year Memorial for Shay's fall
One of the things that touched us most deeply was the diversity of people who were present at the ceremony. Family members, friends, אנשי חינוך, sports figures, people from many different circles in Shay's life, and also people who only met the family after his fall, but over time became part of the journey. There was something profoundly moving in that. Not only those who knew Shay personally carry him in their hearts, but also those who encountered the light, values, and love he left behind.
Alongside those who came in person, there were also those who expressed their participation in other ways, through flower wreaths, meaningful items, gestures, and genuine thoughtfulness. All of these meant a great deal to us. Each such gesture said, in its own way: Shay is not forgotten.
Within all of this, there was also a particularly moving connection to Maccabi Netanya. It was not only the presence of a color or a symbol, but a gesture with soul. A special place is reserved for Mota'le Shpiegler, who in my eyes is the greatest footballer Israel has ever had, and the only one to score a World Cup goal for the Israeli national team. The day before, he traveled to Maccabi Netanya's training ground to collect club items, and brought them early on the morning of the memorial. Some acts are measured not only by what is seen outwardly, but by the heart placed within them. It was a moving, sensitive, and generous gesture, and we are deeply grateful for it.
The words spoken during the ceremony also gave language to what is almost impossible to hold. In Orli's letter came the longing that does not learn time, the inner refusal to accept the absence, and the way Shay continues to remain present through his light, his laughter, his eyes that knew how to truly see people, and his rare ability to give confidence, love, and goodness. In the poem "You Didn't Have Enough Time," the pain of all that was cut short too soon came through powerfully, but so did the recognition that Shay had already become a compass for others and had lit a light that will not go out. In Yaron's letter, Shay's deep impact was strongly felt, as a friend, as a person who truly knew how to see others, to listen, to offer heartfelt advice, and to leave a living mark on the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. And in the filmed eulogy by Shir, which was shown during the ceremony, there was also a particularly moving moment that added a deep layer of love, longing, and very strong family presence to the entire occasion.