Avichai Peretz, former Israel Defense Force soldier, will speak at the Noon Nosh Luncheon on Tuesday, April 21, at noon at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road. The cost for the luncheon is $10 and includes a hot meal of chicken paprikash, buttered noodles, roasted vegetables, and apple pie made in the Federation’s kosher kitchen. RSVP by April 16 to 493-0270 ext.10 or to rsvp@jewishchattanooga.com.
Mr. Peretz was born in Givat Ze’ev, near Jerusalem, in 1985. Mr. Peretz is one of Miriam Peretz’s Sons and a bereaved brother of two fallen Golani Brigade soldiers: Uriel who was killed in Lebanon in 1998 at the age of 22, and Eliraz who was killed in a fire exchange in Gaza in 2010 at the age of 32. Avichai eulogized his brother, Maj. Eliraz Peretz, and said: “You did not go to the army in order to sever the lives of others but to continue the life of the Nation of Israel.”Mr. Peretz served in the Reserve Division “Alexandria” during Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012. Mr. Peretz received a recruitment order and without hesitation and with full support from his mother joined the fighting.
Mr. Peretz said: “I have the right to participate in the defense of my country and our people. My mother has demonstrated that her faith crosses the areas of life and death and it is with me in every decision I make.”
Noon Nosh is a part of the weekly Tuesday Café program which brings in speakers at least monthly. These programs are part of the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga and is intended to reach diverse adult audiences with educational programs and entertainment.