Last Words of Fallen Soldier Inspire National Lego Competition and Exhibition

Sergeant Major Netta Baram, who fell on October 7th while defending Kibbutz Nir Oz, left his family with a poignant final message: "Keep collecting and building Lego for me." Three years after his death, his family continues to honor his legacy by organizing a national Lego competition and exhibition in his hometown of Hadera. The event, now in its third year, will take place on Tuesday, September 29th, at the multi-disciplinary school Netta attended.

Netta, who was a commander of a surveillance balloon team, understood the dire situation he and his soldiers faced when Hamas terrorists breached the kibbutz. His last message to his family, which began with the somber "This is probably the last message I'm writing to you," concluded with his heartfelt request about Lego.

His mother, Nirit Baram, described Netta's lifelong passion for Lego, noting how his collection and building skills evolved from simple models to complex, expensive creations. She shared that he believed Lego connected people and that "you can't build Lego and be sad." The display cabinet he started before his final return to the base is now filled with models built by family, friends, and his partner.

This year's competition, co-organized with "The Magic Cube" community Lego museum, focuses on "Knowing the Land," merging Netta's love for Lego with his passion for Israel's geography and history, stemming from his time as a youth instructor. Participants across different age groups will build Lego creations related to the land. The exhibition will also feature works by expert Lego builders from across the country. The Danish ambassador to Israel is expected to attend, representing the country where Lego originated. The event, titled "Don't Stop Building," aims to be a vibrant, joyful, and unifying occasion, reflecting Netta's spirit.