19-year-olds, in two wars: the street that connects October 7th to the War of Independence

The Rehovot Municipality inaugurated a street section named after Sergeant Shay Ashram, of blessed memory, an observer who fell in battle at the Nahal Oz outpost on October 7, 2023. The section where her family lived is part of a street that commemorates Private Hanna Avrech, of blessed memory, who fell in the War of Independence. Thus, the street will connect two young women from Rehovot who fell while defending the country, both at the age of 19.

Ashram, an observer in the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps, was born, raised, and educated in Rehovot. Her family continues to live on the section of the street that will now bear her name.

Until today, the street was named after Avrech, a fighter who fell in the War of Independence when she was 19. The change of the name of part of the street was done after a dialogue with the Avrech family and with their consent, with the municipality's commitment to continue commemorating her.

Participating in the inauguration ceremony of the section were Shay's parents, Shari and Dror Ashram, her family members, members of the Avrech family, Mayor of Rehovot Matan Dil, and members of the municipal management.

"We are witnessing a moving moment in which urban memory connects generations," said Dil. According to him, "Hanna Avrech and Shay Ashram both fell at 19, in two different periods in the history of the State of Israel, out of a reality in which young men and women were required to defend the home. Hanna in the War of Independence and Shay on October 7."

The mayor thanked the Avrech family for their consent to the move and emphasized that alongside the commemoration of Ashram, the municipality will continue to preserve the story of Avrech as well. According to him, the goal is to create "a memory that connects generations and tells the story of those who gave the most precious thing for the sake of the country."