Eyal's Legacy: Building Sukkat Shalom

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Dear Friends,

Thank you for helping us remember our beloved friend, Eyal Mevorach Twito z"l. Eyal died in battle in the Charvot Barzel War (Swords of Steel) on January 22, 2024. He was 22. Eyal and his family served as shlichim (emissaries) at Oakland Hebrew Day School from 2008-2011. Together with his parents, Moti and Shiri, and his siblings, Eyal was an integral part of the OHDS and Beth Jacob community during this time. He was a very dear classmate and friend, and is remembered as an outgoing, kind young man who had a great sense of humor and loved all sports. At the time of his death, Eyal held the position of Captain in the IDF’s elite Paratrooper Unit.

Although Eyal was killed in the war, we want to celebrate the life he led - a life of chesed (kindness), peace, and contribution to his community and beyond.

With your help, we hope to create a Sukkat Shalom (Sukkah of Peace) in Eyal’s memory on the OHDS campus, a place that brought much joy to Eyal and his friends.

We have contracted the services of local community members Richard Applebaum (East Bay Landscape) and Ben Strashko (Golden State Builders Group), who will collaborate to construct a beautiful Sukkah and surrounding garden (see sketch below). Construction includes leveling the ground, pouring cement posts to hold the wooden frame, installing wood chips and colorful rugs for seating, a customized welcome sign in both English and Hebrew, and planters on either side with wonderful greenery and irrigation. Inside the Sukkah, we will dedicate a plaque with a meaningful entry from Eyal’s diary from the time he served in the IDF.

This project is estimated to cost $12,000. We on the Eyal’s Sukkat Shalom Committee are kicking off this effort with a joint contribution of $1,000. Will you help us with a generous gift to fund the remaining $11,000?

Together, let’s create a beautiful tribute to Eyal’s memory which will be used by OHDS students and families for generations to come.

With much gratitude,

Eyal’s Sukkat Shalom Committee

Adi Schacker, Nicki Gilbert,

Melanie Marcus and Laureen Cohen

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A rendering of Eyal's Sukkat Shalom:

We miss you Eyal.....