The Last Conversation

In memory of Daniel Pomerantz

Born in Yavne, 27th of Elul, 5753 (September 13, 1993). Fell in the Gaza Strip, 22nd of Tammuz, 5774 (July 20, 2014)

Varda Pomerantz was the Head of the Casualties Department in the IDF, which notifies families of the worst of all tragedies. She always knew that one day she would be on the receiving end. In Operation Protective Edge, it happened.

Daniel was born in 1993 to Avi and Varda Pomerantz (a colonel in the reserves, formerly the Head of the Casualties Department in the IDF) and was the younger brother of Elad, Lior and Nimrod. 

Daniel had a special connection to his brother Nimrod. When he was little, Nimrod would tell his mother what Daniel wants—he would translate for him. They had an understanding between them. Already at the age of three, in the preschool’s yearbook, the teacher described Daniel as follows: “He is always surrounded by admirers and friends. He quickly learns the rules of a game and is always at the center of attention.”

Daniel loved to care for animals. In his genealogy project, he wrote that when he moved to Kfar Azar from Yavne when he was five, the family brought all of their animals to the new house. Daniel thought that perhaps he can invent a symbol for the family that would be connected to animals because he was constantly reminded of animals that were with him from the day he was born. 

Daniel Pomerantz Z"l

During school vacations, he would organize his brothers in setting up a café that would host the residents of Kfar Azar. Daniel was the waiter and his brothers got several of their friends involved and divided up roles between them according to what suited each of them. Daniel and his brothers wanted to work so as not to have to ask their parents for money, because “money doesn’t grow on trees.” They planned to expand the enterprise. 

Daniel joined Golani and later was sent to the platoon leader course and became a commander. Before going into Gaza, he spoke with his mother and she recorded the conversation without him knowing. She felt that this was going to be their last conversation. Daniel was killed in the APC disaster in Operation Protective Edge. Varda played the awful recording at Daniel’s funeral. 

In his last letter, Daniel left a request (a part that was not read out at the funeral): “I want to be memorialized in a unique way. I want there to be a party every year on the Southern Cliff Beach, and everyone should come and celebrate. It will be a party and everyone will celebrate—you too.” And indeed, on the last two of his birthdays there has been a party on the beach in his memory.

Daniel Pomerantz Z"l

Interview with Varda Pomerantz, Daniel's mother
 

Thoughts from Lirit Topaz of Neko Productions who produced the film
This is the fourth film that we are creating for Beit Avi Chai in memory of a fallen soldier and every year the story gets deep inside us. 

When we were asked to make the clip about Daniel Pomerantz, I didn’t think twice. I felt that this is something that we need to do—as a calling, as a project of the soul. If we are able to use our skills and resources in order to convey this tragic story and to preserve Daniel’s memory, then that is a great privilege. 

“The Last Conversation” interweaves various aspects of Daniel’s life—the main events in his adolescence and in his development—with those of his mother Varda, the Head of the Casualties Department in the IDF, who as part of her job notifies families of the worst of all tragedies—the death of their loved one. 

The parallel lines of their lives eventually become one single line—when Varda becomes the one to notify the person who is meant to notify her.