Exhibit Honors Fallen Soldiers with Final Photos and Life Stories

An exhibition titled "The Last Picture" opened Sunday at the Yehudit station of the light rail in Gush Dan, featuring the final photographs and personal stories of 22 fallen soldiers from the "Swords of Iron" war. The exhibition, which coincides with the three-month mark since the October 7th attacks, brings the digital memorial project of the same name into the public sphere for the first time. The project, named after Staff Sergeant Amit Regev, was established in collaboration with "Yisrael Hayom" newspaper and the "One Family" organization.

At the opening, Uri Dagon, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of "Yisrael Hayom," shared the story of Sergeant First Class Roey Barakat, who was remembered for his "joy for life" and charisma. Barakat, a Golani Brigade soldier, fell in a battle on October 7th along with 18 other soldiers from his company. His parents chose to memorialize him not just on the battlefield, but in the public spaces they inhabit, focusing on "small moments, life itself," such as a final visit home or a family event.

Reuven Ben Shahar, father of Master Sergeant (Res.) Omri Ben Shahar, who also fell in Gaza on December 8th, called the initiative "good, beautiful, and special." He noted that the exhibition humanizes the fallen heroes in a place where people pass through daily, highlighting their lives and "eternal smile." Ben Shahar described his son as someone who "spread light everywhere he went" with positive energy and a great smile.

The "Last Picture" project, which began on the last Memorial Day, has already memorialized hundreds of soldiers and garnered over 10 million views and shares globally. Beyond the exhibition, the stories will also be featured on YES television screens, the "Pazm" soldiers' page, and in scouting movements across Israel, which has lost 132 members since October 7th. The project is open year-round for families of fallen soldiers to memorialize their loved ones.

Liron Ben Yaakov, Amit Regev's partner, initiated the project after his family received his last photo exiting combat. She explained that while public memory often focuses on the moment of death, families want to remember "how he lived." Ben Yaakov emphasized the significance of the exhibition being in a high-traffic public transit area, urging passersby to "stop for a moment. Look at the faces. Recognize and remember those because of whom we are here." She added that behind each picture is a person who loved, dreamed, and was the world to someone.