I had just gotten back from vacation, but I knew I had to be at the Union Y to photograph Ira Kohler. Getting to make images of this hero for our community was something I didn’t want to miss.
The October 5 event brought everyone together for an evening of unity, remembrance, and strength. I’m grateful I got to be there with my camera.
Ira grew up on Long Island and graduated from the University of Delaware before moving to Israel and joining the IDF as a Lone Soldier in January 2022. He served in the 890th Paratroopers Battalion, fought at Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, and spent more than 100 days in Gaza. He has since returned to the United States and written about his experiences in his memoir, Once a Paratrooper.
That’s a lot of life for a young man to have lived. I wanted to be there to photograph him and share those images with the people who came out to support him.
This is a part of photography I really love. I get to show up for my community and give people photographs to keep and share. It meant a lot to do that for Ira’s visit to the Union Y.
Thank you, Ira, for sharing your story, and thank you to the Union Y for bringing everyone together
