Tal Dror

About

Tal Dror was born and raised in Jerusalem, the eldest son of Rami and Orit, and the brother of Maya and Roi. He was also the partner of Mollie.

Tal was a very family-oriented child; his family meant everything to him, and he took his role as the eldest sibling very seriously. He was a very warm, embracing, and protective brother, always listening, advising, and protecting his siblings, but he also loved to make people laugh and enjoy himself with them.

Tal was an exceptionally intelligent and sharp child. He excelled academically and had knowledge of virtually everything. Mathematics, physics, astronomy, politics, history, architecture, economics—stocks and the financial market, current events—nothing was off-limits for discussion with him.

His greatest passion was mathematics and physics, which he deepened in his spare time, even taking university courses. He loved to challenge himself.

He was also a highly skilled chess player, earning his first medal at the age of five.

Tal never wasted a day in his life. He always said that each day he went to sleep, he knew he had done something or learned something new that would advance him the next day. Even when leaving the army, he would create a detailed schedule to fit everything in, including visiting his grandmothers and friends, reading, and learning something new.

Tal wanted to work as a missile scientist at NASA or as an electronics engineer in the defense industries.

Sometimes, when people are exceptionally intelligent, it comes at the expense of their social skills and sensitivity. But that was not the case with Tal.

He was surrounded by friends, and in the eulogies at the funeral, one after another, friends shared how Tal was the best friend they had ever had. He gave 100% of himself to everyone. He was charismatic, athletic, good-looking, an admired figure, and popular with the girls. People were always drawn to him wherever he went.

In addition, Tal had an extremely high level of social sensitivity. He always knew how to identify the weak or those who needed help or a kind word, and he would offer it with precision. A few brief examples:

In elementary and middle school, he saved three children from bullying.

About two months ago, he met a homeless man at the central bus station in Be’er Sheva, who asked for money. Tal told him he would buy him a meal on the condition that they eat together because the man seemed very lonely. The homeless man told Tal that he hadn’t spoken to an adult in months and that he needed a conversation more than food.

During the week of mourning, a 14-year-old boy came and shared that he had met Tal at the gym, where Tal explained how to use the equipment and told him that he believed in him. For that boy, hearing that from someone like Tal, a “man” to him, meant the world.

Tal always uplifted people and knew how to empower them from the heart.

Even in the small things, like picking up litter from the street, helping an elderly woman carry her groceries, or offering a seat to an elderly person on the bus.

Tal studied at the Boyar High School and graduated with honors. After high school, he attended a pre-army preparatory course organized by the Jewish Agency, where he met mollie, his partner, a new immigrant from the U.S. They were together for a year, and he told his family that he wanted to marry her, and they are happy that he had the chance to love.

At the pre army program , Tal was, of course, chosen as an outstanding student.

Tal enlisted in May 2024, completed basic training as an outstanding soldier, and finished his course with excellence. He was assigned to the 13th Battalion of Golani as a communications coordinator until he would begin the position he had been accepted for and wanted so much.

Tal was supposed to start his new role after Sukkot, but he didn’t have the chance.

After his death, we found words he had written, in which he expressed that he enlisted for the idea of the State of Israel, and that this idea was a noble goal, greater than the individual. Greater than him. He was ready to give his all for this cause, just as those before him did, so that the deaths of those who gave their lives would not be in vain. And that’s what he did—he gave his all.

Tal fell at the age of 19, on Rosh Hashanah, the 1st of Tishrei, due to a drone strike from Iraq at his base in the Golan Heights.

Despite all the difficulty, pain, and terrible loss, we, his family, are grateful for the 19 years we had with him. We know that he lived a full and good life, that he had knowledge that most people don’t acquire even in a lifetime, and that he touched so many lives that others may not have in a full lifetime. We understand that maybe his soul knew it was here for a limited time, which is why he completed so much in life so quickly. He enjoyed, he traveled, he had fun, he loved, and he always knew he was very loved by everyone who surround him.