The Town of Oyster Bay dedicates a newly redesigned park to 21-year-old Omer Neutra, the American-Israeli soldier killed on October 7th, ensuring his legacy of courage and love of basketball lives on.
On Sunday, the Plainview community gathered in sorrow and pride as the Town of Oyster Bay officially renamed a local park in honor of Omer Neutra, the 21-year-old American-Israeli soldier murdered by Hamas during the October 7th massacre.
Neutra, a graduate of the Schechter School of Long Island, had been serving in the IDF when he fell defending Israel. Initially believed to have been taken hostage alive, the IDF later confirmed his death in December 2024. Hamas still cruelly withholds his body in Gaza — a grim reminder of the terror group’s inhumanity.
The dedication ceremony at Marilyn Boulevard and Phipps Lane was deeply moving. A rabbi led the gathering in prayer before Omer’s family spoke about their son, his values, and his passion for life.
The park — now fully redesigned — includes a brand-new basketball court, a tribute to Omer’s love for the sport. A lifelong Knicks fan who idolized Kobe Bryant, Omer wore the number 24 proudly and never missed a game, even after making Aliyah to Israel. Last year, his family hosted a community basketball match on what would have been his 23rd birthday.
Town officials emphasized that the park will stand as a living legacy: a place where children and families can gather, play, and be inspired by Omer’s devotion to faith, community, and Israel.
More than just a park, it is a monument of resilience — a symbol that while Hamas seeks to destroy life, Jewish and American communities alike honor and uplift it.
