Daniel Peretz Memorial Study Center and Synagogue Opened in Rehovot to Promote Unity and Healing
A moving ceremony was held on Monday at the Peres Academic Center in Rehovot to inaugurate a new synagogue and the "Daniel Peretz Study Center for Israeli Unity," named in memory of Captain Daniel Peretz, who was killed heroically at the Nahal Oz outpost on October 7. His body was abducted to Gaza and returned to Israel on October 25. Hundreds participated in a festive procession bringing in two Torah scrolls donated by Rafi and Ofra Elul, founders and leaders of the academic center. The event was led by the Elul couple, the center's rector Professor Ron Shapira, Rabbi Doron Peretz and his wife Shelly, Daniel’s parents, and Rehovot Mayor Matan Dil.
The synagogue’s establishment reflects the center’s vision to combine academic excellence with values education, national resilience, and Israeli unity. The study center named after Daniel will serve as a space for learning, dialogue, and social activity for students, emphasizing connection to Jewish tradition, identity, and mutual responsibility.
Rabbi Doron Peretz, president of the study center and Daniel’s father, spoke at the ceremony, emphasizing the center as a place for learning, partnership, and reconciliation. He highlighted the unity and brotherhood shown by Daniel and his tank crew during the October 7 attack, urging the nation to heal internal divisions, especially ahead of elections. He called the center a bridge between Torah, Jewish thought, and academia to foster renewed unity inspired by Daniel’s team of soldiers.
Daniel’s tank crew, known as "Team Peretz," included four soldiers who fought bravely against hundreds of terrorists on October 7. Over 50 soldiers were killed and ten abducted in the attack. The study center and synagogue, alongside the Torah scrolls, represent moments of spiritual elevation and national pride, said Ofra Elul. She stressed the importance of providing students with not only academic excellence but also a strong ethical foundation and connection to Jewish roots and unity.
Dr. Shaul Sharaf, director of the study center, noted that higher education institutions in Israel must take on active national and ethical roles during crises, linking academic learning to Israel’s resilience and mission. The shared learning and spiritual experience at the Daniel Peretz Study Center aim to transform current hardships into genuine spiritual growth and mental resilience for students.
