The tenth of Nissan, which this year fell out on April 8th, marked the thirtieth yahrzeit of Alisa Flatow z”l, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Israel. Alisa was only 20 years old, a devoted student studying in Nishmat in Jerusalem, at the time of her murder.

In the face of unimaginable grief, the Flatow family made a choice to donate her organs, giving the gift of life in the face of their tragedy. Many Jews remember her story well as one of the earliest high-profile cases of posthumous organ donation from the American Jewish community.

Alisa’s parents continued in the coming years to speak publicly and passionately about halachic organ donation. Her parents made one of the initial grants to start the Halachic Organ Donor Society (HODS), which revolutionized the Jewish communal conversation about organ donation. This work continues today through Ematai’s Option 18 Jewish organ donation initiative. Many lives were saved through the inspiration of Alisa’s story. It reminds us that even in the darkest moments, there is an opportunity to bring light.

Thanks to the Flatow family’s support, Ematai created different FAQ pamphlets which are distributed to organ procurement organizations (OPOs), equipping them with the knowledge to dispel myths and share the facts about organ donation in the Jewish community. These materials are used at educational events and in sensitive real-time conversations with families facing difficult decisions. In Alisa’s memory, please take a few minutes to learn more on our Option 18 webpage. On the webpage, you can download a sheet about halachic organ donation dedicated in Alisa’s memory as well watch a new educational video about the myths and facts of Jewish organ donation.

We are honored and proud to continue sharing Alisa’s story and to spread her legacy which will continue to save many lives for years to come.