This last Shabbos, Shabbos Vayechi 5786, I had the opportunity to spend the Shabbos in Yerushalayim with some incredible members of our shul who helped arrange and sponsor a Shabbos of chizuk for families who have lost sons, husbands and siblings in the war of Iron Swords. This chevra of people in our shul not only sponsored the Shabbos but came along to be there for the families. I was privileged to be invited to this unique experience.
It was specifically for those associated with the Bnei David institutions. The background is as follows. 30 years ago Rav Eli Sadan and Rav Yigal Levenstein started the first Mechina in Israel. It was a year-long program preceding regular army duty. Most religious boys going to the army directly from high school lost their connection to observance over their three years of service. The Bnei David Mechina fortifies the young men with Torah, Jewish identity, love for the land and commitment to the klal. It was wildly successful and since then many more Mechinot have been created around Israel. Meanwhile the Bnei David institution expanded to create a Yeshiva, a Mechina for post-army service and other Mechina branches.
The Bnei David Institutions lost over 30 soldiers over the war. These were either graduates or sons of graduates. This Shabbos was designed to take the families for a Shabbos away to a beautiful hotel, with great meals and entertainment, and most importantly, giving the families the time to be with each other. Lior Shtul, the executive director of Bnei David, organized the Shabbos and it was a beautiful time together with Divrei Torah from Rav Sadan, his son Rav Sadan, Rav Kashtiel and Rav Yigal Levenstein. There were beautiful programs starting from Thursday until Motzei Shabbos, including a presentation from Brigadier General Ofer Winter, President Isaac Hertzog, an oneg Shabbos with Sivan Rahv and Yedidya Meir, songs with Ariel Horowitz (son of Nomi Shemer) and a musical Melava Malka with Yonatan Razel.
Over the course of the weekend various families shared memories about their loved ones who had fallen. It was truly a humbling experience. What was common throughout the many speeches we heard was that all of the young men who were killed in battle were exceptional human beings who lived lives of Torah and the ideal of belonging to something bigger than themselves.
What was also so meaningful was how important it was for the parents of these soldiers that the story continue and their memory and ideas not be lost. I feel compelled to share some of the memories they shared with us, so their stories will continue. These are just some short memories from just some of the families I learned about over Shabbos. May their memories be a blessing.
Yosef Gedaliah
We learned about Yosef Gedaliah. He was humble and yet a leader in the elite Duvdevan unit. He went straight from shul on Simchas Torah into battle in Kfar Aza. He killed dozens of terrorists and saved many civilians. He fought valiantly and was killed on October 7th at 2pm. His brother also belonged to an elite unit and entered Kfar Aza later that day and survived. He was able to identify his brother's body because of his tzitzis. A month later Yosef appeared in a dream to colleagues in the army to warn them to leave the house they were staying in, in Gaza, saving them from the imminent explosion. He is survived by his wife Sinai and his parents David and Dina.
Dvir Lisha
We got to hear about Dvir Lisha. He was a budding artist. Even at the age of 12.5 he was drawing up comics about the weekly parsha. He published a book like a newspaper with 3 news items on each parsha. He is survived by his parents Rav Nisan and Naveh, 2 married sisters and 3 younger brothers and a sister. They live in Nitzan right next to Ashkelon. He was at the Zikim base and was the one who sounded the alarm about the coastal invasion and was killed in the battle which ensued. His parents are teachers. After the start of the war, his mother decided that this war is about identity and she decided to start a curriculum in school from grades 1-5 in which the children each choose one topic about Jewish Identity and create a project to teach the rest of the class about it.
Eyal Berkovitch
We learned about Eyal Berkovitch. He was a budding talmid chacham who was killed in battle in Gaza. He was married to Michal and died just after his first anniversary. He was in Sayeret Matkal and later Maglan, two elite units. After his death, his family discovered much of his writings and published his handwritten notes on all of the shisha sidrei mishna. He is survived by his wife Michal and his parents Shmaya and Ricky. His father was the baal koreh this Shabbos.
Nati Eitan
We got to hear from Nati Eitan's parents. He was an excellent and dedicated soldier. He was in the elite unit of 669 which is search and rescue. His team was ambushed and despite being injured, he helped his friends who were critically injured. He was hit and after being critically injured succumbed to his wounds 2 days later. He was friends with Yona Brief and during Yona's stay in hospital, he would visit often to learn with him. Nati had just got engaged and had asked his mother to go out to buy a ring for his kallah. She bought the ring in the morning and that night he was killed in Gaza. 2 years later his kallah still wears the ring from him.
Moshe Leiter
We got to meet the mother and brother of Moshe Leiter. His father is Yechiel Leiter, the current ambassador of Israel to the USA. Moshe was 39 years old with 6 kids, the youngest being 3 months old at the time. At the age of 33 he decided to become a doctor and started his studies. Alongside this he helped the Chareidi community integrate into the 8200 intelligence unit in the army. He was exempt from reserve duty but he refused to stay behind. He told his mother that the way the war was being prosecuted was not correct because it was walking into the traps of Hamas but nonetheless he followed the orders he was given and was killed in action. His mother described him as the type of person who was always connecting with others.
Yitzhar Hoffman
We got to learn about Yitzhar Hoffman. He was the youngest of 7 children. His mother is from Tunis and his father from Amsterdam. She was not able to have more children after the 6th child and she prayed very hard for him. She was given this special gift, even though it was only for 36 years. He was an engineer by trade and was involved in building the new National Library in Yerushalayim. He was an extremely humble person not boasting about the many prizes and recognitions he received both in the army and in engineering. He was responsible for the capture of Shifa hospital and did so with minimum casualties on both sides. He was next in line to be the head of Shaldag, one of the most elite units in the army.
Amishar Ben-David
Amishar Ben-David was born on the 7th day of Pesach which is why his parents called him Amishar which means 'my nation sings' because of the shiras hayam. His parents live in Keshet in the Golan. He was the father of 5 children and husband to Shlomit. He was a teacher and an EMT among many of his community oriented activities. He lived a life deeply committed to the nation of Israel and did not hesitate running into battle for the sake of the nation.
Harel Ettinger
We learned about Harel Ettinger who was killed while fighting in Lebanon. He was a Captain in the Egoz unit. He is the son of Rav Achiad Ettinger who was killed just 6 years ago when trying to stop a terror attack. Harel's mother Tamar spoke about her husband and son who were lost. It was a particularly difficult presentation to hear.
Yona Brief
We got to meet the parents of Yona Brief. He is the youngest child of David and Hazel Brief. He was a combat medic in the elite Duvdevan unit. He went straight into battle on October 7th. He and his team was ambushed when they entered a house. His other two team mates were killed on the spot. He took 13 bullets and was saved and survived in hospital for 14 months before succumbing to his wounds. His parents stopped their whole lives to be by his side. During this time he learned, spoke and connected to those that were dear to him.
Yair Shushan
We got to learn a lot about Yair Shushan. Shabbos was actually the day of his first yahrzeit. He was an exceptional officer. He was selected for officer training and he ensured that all his soldiers made it to elite units. For one of them who had a foot injury and couldn't make the needed time in his run, he organized a triangle of runners in front of him to allow him to break the wind pressure. In his unit, he did not allow cursing and he enforced it. He was very careful about wearing his tzitzis all the time. After his passing a movement started in his memory called tzitziot barzel - iron tzitzios - in which many soldiers adopted wearing tzitzis because of him. After his passing, someone in the neighborhood suggested planting trees in the park in his memory. Another neighbor responded: what trees? We need a whole park! Today the Yair Shushan park is a reality. He is survived by his wife and parents.
These are just a few of the many families we got to spend time with. Each story was unique and yet all shared a common thread – these young men were leaders who lived by Torah values and gave everything for their nation. The Shabbos was a powerful reminder of both the immense cost of this war and the extraordinary spirit of the people who have borne that cost with faith and dignity.
May their memories be a blessing, and may we merit to see comfort for all the families of Israel.