Hope is still here: The story of Sgt. Yahav Maayan, the soldier who quietly stood up for lonely children
Sgt. Yahav Maayan came into the world as a precious gift. He was born after a difficult and complicated pregnancy for his mother, Gali Dgani Maayan, and his name carried a hidden prayer: Yahav, a Hebrew word associated with hope, also represented the initials of the Hebrew phrase meaning “May God protect my son.”
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On Jan. 11, 2025, at just 19, Yahav was killed in battle in Jabaliya in the Gaza Strip while serving as a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade. He is survived by his mother, his younger sister, Gaya, and left behind also a loving family, heartbroken friends and a legacy of compassion, humility and concern for others.
The heart of the family, the smile among friends
Yahav grew up in a small, close-knit family: his mother, his sister and him. As a child, he had a quiet nature that allowed him to spend hours absorbed in puzzles, Lego and Playmobil. As he grew older, he fell in love with soccer and became a devoted Beitar Jerusalem fan.
His friends remember a young man with an enormous heart and an infectious smile that won people over instantly. “Even if you were angry or sad, his smile would immediately change your mood,” his friend O. said.
Yahav was enthusiastic about Fridays. Despite the exhaustion of demanding military service, he never gave up his routine: coming home, devouring his mother’s schnitzels, taking a short nap, getting a haircut, playing soccer with friends and arriving at his grandparents’ home at exactly 6 p.m. for Kiddush and time with his younger cousins.
“Mom, forget it. I’m a Nahal soldier”
Everyone who knew Yahav understood that he would choose a meaningful combat role. He enlisted in December, just two months after the Oct. 7 attacks, driven by a deep sense of purpose and fully aware of the risks.
Although he initially hoped to serve in the Givati Brigade, he changed his mind after a childhood friend was assigned to Nahal. “Mom, forget it. I’m a Nahal soldier,” he declared.
For his mother Gali, who had also served in Nahal, the decision was a source of double pride. In the army, Yahav found close friendships. When friends from home anxiously asked what things were like at the front, he would always reassure them with his characteristic humor: “It’s nothing. We’re playing backgammon and listening to the radio,” he would tell them.
A quiet legacy: Protecting children who were alone
Only after Yahav was killed did his family discover how much of a hero he had also been in everyday civilian life. A father and son who happened to meet Gali at a restaurant approached her in tears, saying, “Your son saved my son,” the father told her.
Yahav, who was two years older than the boy, had noticed that he was being severely bullied and was spending school breaks alone. Quietly, without drawing attention to himself or seeking recognition, Yahav supported him, lifted his spirits and gave him the strength to cope. The family later discovered that there were many other children for whom Yahav had been an anchor, quietly protecting them from loneliness.
As long as he is remembered, he lives on
Yahav’s family and friends refuse to let his light fade. Many have had his fingerprint tattooed on their arms alongside words in his handwriting, while Gali proudly wears the watch she bought him when he enlisted.
In Modi’in, a path called “Yahav Trail” was dedicated in his memory as part of a local commemoration project. But perhaps the tribute that best captures who he was is the one that most closely reflects his personality.
Yahav had simple tastes. He loved pasta, rice and, above all, mountains of homemade schnitzel. His family is now honoring his memory through a social media project called “Yahav’s Mountain of Schnitzels” and is also working on a children’s book of the same name. The book will focus on empathy, inclusion and preventing bullying and social exclusion among young children.
Both projects seek to carry forward Yahav’s spirit - his kindness, his compassion and the broad smile that his family hopes will continue to brighten the lives of others.
Sgt. Yahav Maayan of the Nahal Brigade was killed on Jan. 11, 2025. He was 19.
May his memory be a blessing.
Sergeant
Yahav Maayan