Here is Yam's story, taken from her Izkor page:
Yam grew up in Modi'in. She was a beloved daughter to her parents and a devoted sister to her two brothers. She was a cheerful, pleasant, responsible, and high-achieving girl. She attended Nitzanim Elementary School, where she was an outstanding, diligent, and ambitious student. She continued her education at the Yitzhak Rabin Ironi Bet Middle School, and due to her impressive achievements in STEM subjects, she was placed in the "Amat" class - a specialized scientific-technological track.
In 2016, at the age of thirteen, she moved with her family to the Netherlands for her father's job, settling in the city of Almere. She attended an international school there, formed close friendships with students from around the world, traveled extensively, and gained a wealth of experiences.
Yam was gifted with many talents and succeeded in everything she did. Her personality combined an interest in science with a passion for various forms of artistic creativity, ranging from painting to crafts like knitting - activities she pursued in her free time. She loved music deeply, played the drums, and was a member of a band. Additionally, she taught herself how to build, program, and design websites.
Upon completing high school in 2021, the family returned to Israel to enable Yam and her older brother to enlist in the military.
On March 21, 2022, Yam enlisted in the IDF and served in the Border Defense Corps. She completed a Visual Intelligence Analyst course at the Border Defense School at Base "Magen Sayarim" in the Southern Negev and aspired to serve in the Gaza sector, an area considered both interesting and challenging. She was stationed at Re'im Base, home to the Gaza Division headquarters, and served in the "Nesher" 414 Battalion, a unit operating under the Border Defense Corps' Combat Intelligence Array.
After a year in the role and upon the recommendation of her commanders, she attended a command course. Subsequently, she was assigned as a commander of field observers at the Nachal Oz outpost. This outpost was considered a frontline, highly operational position within the sector, and Yam was proud to have been selected to serve there. She was an admired commander who was attentive to her soldiers, caring deeply for them. They wrote: "Her smile and humility were unique to her. We will forever remember her, her gaze and her kind eyes."
Throughout her service, she was responsible for the safety of the sector's troops and the residents of the Gaza Envelope, raising the alarm whenever she detected threats along the security fence. Throughout her service, she was present at numerous security incidents and military operations, including Operation "Breaking Dawn" (August 5-7, 2022) and Operation "Shield and Arrow" (May 9-13, 2023) - both directed against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. She was fully aware of the importance of her role to national security and showed no fear about being stationed near the border. She performed her duties with dedication, responsibility, professionalism, and composure.
During her military service, she met Alon, her partner, with whom she shared a love for music.
Yam had many plans and dreams for the future. Her discharge from mandatory service was scheduled for March 2024, following a two-year term. She planned to fly to the Netherlands and continue on to Japan for a trip with childhood friends. She had already purchased flight tickets to both destinations for that month. Additionally, she dreamed of traveling to New York with her mother and intended to study computer engineering at university and pursue a career in the field. However, these aspirations were never realized.
On Saturday, the 22nd of Tishrei - Simchat Torah 5784 (October 7, 2023) at 6:30 a.m., the terrorist organization Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. Under the cover of a massive barrage of missiles and rockets fired from the Gaza Strip at vast areas of the country, thousands of terrorists infiltrated via land, sea, and air. They launched a murderous assault on the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip as well as the towns of Sderot, Ofakim, and Netivot, targeting outdoor party-goers near Kibbutz Re'im and Kibbutz Nirim, IDF bases, and travelers on local roads. The terrorists abducted hundreds of Israelis to the Gaza Strip and destroyed, looted, and set fires to homes and property. Hundreds of soldiers, police officers, security personnel, and members of local rapid-response teams fell in battle. That morning, a war began.
That same morning, Yam was on duty in the operations room at the Nachal Oz outpost. At 6:29 a.m., she spotted terrorists approaching the border fence area, as well as explosions from charges intended to breach the barrier. She alerted forces to defend the outpost and the communities in the sector. At 6:40 a.m., dozens of terrorists stormed the outpost, deploying drones that dropped bombs and struck the surveillance systems. Yam and her friends remained at their posts until the moment all surveillance systems were disabled, they were then directed to the secure room within the operations center. At 9:41 a.m., Yam sent a text message to her mother from another soldier's phone: "Mom, it's Yam. I'm okay now." That was the last sign of life from her, and since then, her mother said, "time stood still". Throughout the day, her family tried to find out where Yam was and how she was doing, hoping she was safe inside the operations center.
At the same time, numerous IDF forces were defending the outpost, engaging in fierce, heroic battles at close range against Hamas terrorists and killing dozens of them. During hours of intense combat, the terrorists attempted to seize the operations center but were repelled by the fighters. When the soldiers ran out of ammunition, a terrorist tried to enter the center but was killed by a soldier using a knife taken from one of the terrorists. Finally, the terrorists threw grenades into the operations center and set it ablaze.
Yam was initially listed as missing. A few days later, her dog tag, badly charred, was returned to her family, and her body was eventually identified.
Sergeant Yam Glass fell in battle on the 22nd of Tishrei, 5784 (October 7, 2023). She was twenty years old at the time of her death. She was laid to rest in the military section of the Modi'in cemetery. She is survived by her parents and two brothers.
Following her death, she was posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Her gravestone bears the inscription: "Believe it or not, there wasn't a day I didn't think of you" (from the song "Yumbo" by Nadav Hollander)
Hundreds of family members, friends, and residents of Modi'in attended the funeral to pay their final respects. At the funeral, singer Alon Eder performed Yam's favorite song, "In Motion, In a Glance" and here are some of the lyrics: "I search within myself for beautiful words, / That I might sing, / That might make me weep. / Evening falls and I wander, / The sunset light - like a weight upon my heart. // I see an opening, / Melodies leading elsewhere. / A faint voice, soon to grow stronger. / In motion, in a glance, / We shall change - both you and I."
Her mother delivered a eulogy: "Yami, I miss you so much. I miss you all day, every day. I miss you at home, at the dinner table, in your room, I even miss seeing your things in the laundry basket. I miss your smile, your opinions, and your voice, the voice calling out 'Mom' from the other end of the house. I miss your inner and outer beauty, and that mother-daughter partnership that only mothers and daughters truly understand". She further said: "Sometimes memories bring a smile to my face, though mostly they bring longing and pain. Yet, the overwhelming feeling is one of helplessness and a suffocating ache at the thought that you are not with us now - and never will be again. I try to connect with you through the music you listened to, the stories people tell about you, and the countless photos and videos. You always look so beautiful, funny, joyful, and pure. An angel, without a doubt. There isn't a moment, not even a split second, when you aren't with me in my thoughts, my pain, and my heart; I think about what you would have wanted to do and where you would have wanted to be... I thought I had always given everything, yet I was denied the chance to give you what you truly needed."
