Israel has lost a fair number of its finest young soldiers during the current war in Lebanon. How they died certainly varies from individual to individual, but recent accounts of how Major Roi Klein died while leading his troops against Hizb’allah in Bint Jbeil is characteristic of other stories I have heard about the conduct of seasoned Israeli commanders who possess a deep sense of what they are fighting for.
According to personal accounts of some of the soldiers present in the fierce battle on July 26, Klein not only displayed tremendous self-sacrifice by falling on a grenade lobbed at his platoon, but made sure the last thing he did in this life was honor God by reciting the Sh’ma - “Here Oh Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One.”
The spirit of Israel’s great biblical warriors appears to be alive and well in this nation.
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7 comments so far ↓
1 FERN SIDMAN // Aug 4, 2006 at 8:18 am
LET US REMEMBER……
BY: FERN SIDMAN
Tisha B’Av (the 9th day in the month of Av) is now over. Every year on this date, the Jewish people commemorate all the horrific and painful tragedies that have befallen us as a people since the beginning of time. We fast and mourn and pray with fervor to the Almighty G-d of Israel that He deliver us from the nightmare of the exile, return us to our homeland so that we may witness the coming of our righteous Messiah and the rebuilding of our Holy Temple.
We recite the book of Eicha (Lamentations) which graphically descirbes the destruction of Jerusalem and the agony and humiliation that the Jewish people endured. It is a painful book to read, one that evokes horrifying memories of not only the distant past but of events that are ancestors lived through.
A few examples of the devastation, death and destruction that was wrought on this day are as follows:
On the 9th of Av, Moses broke the first tablets of Law when he came down from Sinai to find the people worshipping the golden calf.
Solomon’s Temple (the First Temple) was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BCE, under the rulership of Nebuchadnezzar.
The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, under the leadership of Titus.
In 135 CE, the final destruction of Bar Kochba’s army after his last fortress, Betar, fell. Jerusalem was ploughed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian and thus became a Roman city.
In 1290 CE, King Edward 1st of England signed an edict expelling all Jews from England.
In 1492, the Jews were expelled from Spain.
World War 1 began on the 9th of Av.
Himler presented his plan to the Nazi Party on the “Final Solution” to the Jewish problem, July 31, 1940 - Tisha B’Av
One year later to the day, Himler’s “Plan” was formerly implemented.
The beginning of Nazi deportations of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto, 1942.
And now, on this ninth day in the month of Av in the year 2006, Israel is yet again subjected to a barbaric enemy that seeks to eradicate its existence. It has been reported that today, Aug 3, 2006, Tisha B’Av on the Jewish calendar saw, “the deadliest day yet for the Jewish state in its two-front war.” (Fox News, 8/3/06). This is of no coincidence.
Today four Israeli soldiers were killed in battle with Hezbollah guerillas in southern Lebanon and eight civilians were murdered by Katyusha rockets fired at the northern Israeli cities of Acre and Maalot. Today twelve lives were taken from us. Today, young Jews defending their country from terrorists were ripped from our bosom. They are not just statistics in the mounting death rate or faceless beings. They are our sons and brothers. They are young boys who will not live to marry and raise another generation. They are: Sergeant Andrei Brudner, 18, from Rishon L’Tzion, Sergeant Itamar Tsur, 19, from Be’er Tuvia, Sergeant Alon Fintuch, 19, from Kiryat Yam and Sergeant Yonatan Sharabi, 19, from Petach Tivkah.
Today we witnessed a funeral of a young American Jewish soldier. Michael Levin, a 22-year-old Israeli soldier who grew up in Philadelphia, was laid to rest at Mount Herzl (Jerusalem’s military cemetery). First Sgt. Levin was one of three Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers killed Tuesday when his platoon was hit by a Hezbollah anti-tank missile in Aita al-Shaab, a southern Lebanese town one kilometer (0.62 miles) away from the border with Israel, near Moshav Zarit.
Levin immigrated to Israel at the age of 18 after graduating from Council Rock High School in Bucks County, Mass. in 2002. He briefly studied on Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi, located along the Jordan River south of Bet She’an, prior to joining the IDF. After his time at the kibbutz, Levin joined the IDF as a paratrooper. He was recently granted special permission from the army to go on temporary leave and visit his family in the United States. While there, news that war had broken out on the northern border prompted Levin to cut his vacation short to join up with his unit in Lebanon.
Each of these fallen soldiers has his own story. Each one can never be forgotten as a hero to his people and his nation. On this ninth day in the month of Av, this day of mourning, this day of tragedy and torment, we must add the names of these brave and courageous souls to those who we will mourn for.
We must also remember the names and stories of those civilians who were murdered on this ninth of Av. They are: Shimon Zaribi, 44, from Akko, Mazal Zaribi, 15, (Shimon’s daughter), Albert Ben-Abu, 41 from Akko, Aryeh Tamam, from Akko and Tiran Tamam (Aryeh’s brother).
We must remember these precious souls. A father and his daughter killed on the same day and two brothers. We must remember them and the families who grieve and mourn and suffer in silence. Our compassion and mercy must be aroused and our tears flow freely. The nation of Israel will never forget that these souls were taken on this most ominous day in Jewish history.
In Maalot, three Israeli Arabs from the village of Tarshiha were riding in a car when rockets started falling. They are: Sinati Sinati, 18, from Maalot, Amir Naeem, 18, from Maalot and Muhammad Faour, 18, from Maalot.
And let us remember today’s wounded. According to Arutz Sheva news service, “Reports from northern area hospitals state 47 people wounded in rocket attacks remain hospitalized in Nahariya Hospital and Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. One of the victims is listed in critical condition, 14 serious and the remainder light and light-to-moderate.”
And to those who will say that this bloodiest day thus far in the battle for Israel’s survival is just a coincidence, we must ask why this death and carange did not happen yesterday or a week ago. For those who have eyes to see and ears to listen with, we must know that events such as this horrific one did not happen on this particular day for no reason. We must know that this a reminder from the Almighty G-d of Israel. A reminder that we must mourn and repent and come closer to the G-d that will deliver us from our enemies, if we only allow Him to. If we only recognize His dominion and His sovereignty in this world.
This war is far from over. Our victory or defeat will not be inextricably tied to our military technology, superiority or strength.. Wars in the nation of Israel are not won because we know how to fly planes or shoot missiles. We have the physical tools to go into battle with. Our ultimate victory or defeat will depend on our stalwart faith and trust in the Almighty G-d of Israel. The ultimate outcome will depend on our resolve to defeat our enemy and our determination to fear only G-d and not mortal man.
Through the vehicle of prayer, repentance and charity we can arouse the infinite mercy and compassion of the Creator of the Universe. Let us be resolved to intensify our prayers and to remember that we are never alone. If we will have the strength to defeat our enemy and display no fear, the Almighty will be at our side.
There is a passage in the Talmud, in the tractate Sotah that describes the period that will precede the coming of Messiah. The Galil will be under heavy attack, it states, - so even in our pain, there is a measure of comfort in the knowledge that HaShem is above us, and in the end, our redemption will come.
May it be the will of G-d that this be the very last Tisha B’Av. May it be His will that this day be trasnsformed into a day of joy, a festive holiday. And may we merit to see the final redemption speedily in our days.
2 Jeff // Aug 4, 2006 at 3:16 pm
It is encouraging to hear of Israelites who are clinging to the words of their El. True faith and trust are gifts from Him.
Israel’s salvation, which will come, is dependent entirely on Yahweh, and His plan to bless all the nations. The Israel to Whom He comes will no longer have any strength of it own or ability to defend itself. He HImself will be the strength and salvation of His people.
However, before that salvation comes, apostate Jewry, culminating in the city of Babylon will be destroyed.
Amorton,
After some more study and consideration I have to go along with A.E. Knoch’s view, that Babylon, that city on the Euphrates will be rebuilt, and it will be the financial and commercial capital of the world, having a kingdom over the kings of the earth.
If you have the time and interest, you might find some intersting information at:
http://www.concordant.org/expohtml/TheUnveiling/TheUnveiling.htm
3 Jeff // Aug 5, 2006 at 8:02 am
Hear O creation. The God Who is God is one God.
Working toward His goal of being All in all, He brings every creature to the realization of its own nothingness before He fills it with the realization of Him.
And He does it through His Son, Jesus Christ.
4 Jeff // Aug 6, 2006 at 11:15 am
The return of Israel to his homeland is an operation of Yahweh his Elohim, yet the faithful in Israel will be fleeing into the mountains prior to the coming of Messiah. They will be protected and cared for there, but pray that their flight may not be occurring in winter or on a sabbath, for then shall be great affliction, such as has not occurred from the beginning of the world.
May their Lord Yahweh bless them and fill them with His words, words of spirit, life, and expectation.
5 Tom Goodwin, G.G. // Aug 12, 2006 at 12:16 am
How about some commentary here on how an innocent non-combatant in Lebanon dies? Is it fair enough to look at both sides of this tragic situation? Probably not, according to what has been written here. Doesn’t God hate the evil of war? If he does, why shouldn’t we?
6 Victor Passenheim // Aug 15, 2006 at 8:24 pm
Amen, Fern. Thank you for bringing to remembrance the plight of the nation of Israel throughout the ages. We must never forget the lengths to which Israel has gone through in order to once again become a people in the land God promised them. Also, we must not forget that Israel, is not “there” yet. I mean in the sense that Israel still to this day looks to the nations for approval and fears their response rather than God’s. The world has never had Israel’s interests at heart, just like it has never had God’s interests at heart.
The world’s “solution” when it comes to warfare is always more costly in the long run, and therefore does not have a shred of mercy or compassion for either of the parties involved. No people can coexist with terrorism. It is a cancer that must be destroyed or it will spread and eventually kill all its hosts.
7 Victor Passenheim // Aug 15, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Ryan,
Thank you for posting this article. It reminds us of all that is beautiful about the Jewish people.
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