Wounded Soldiers

Shiraz Project Names of Wounded Soldiers: http://www.shmiraproject.com/en-us/home.aspx

Shiraz Project Names of Wounded Soldiers: http://www.shmiraproject.com/en-us/home.aspx

Names of Wounded Soldiers:


א  
AVIV EL CHAI BEN ARIELA                                                                        אביב אל חי בן אריאלה

AVICHAYIL ELIMELECH BEN NECHAMA                                      אביחיל אלימלך בן נחמה

AVIHU BEN RONIT                                                                                  אביהו בן רונית
AVIAD BEN SIMA                                                                                  
אביעד בן סימה

AVIRAM BEN RIVKA                                                                                          אבירם בן רבקה                     

AVISHAI BEN SIGAL                                                                                אבישי בן סיגל
AVRAHAM NACHMAN BEN OSNAT                                                אברהם נחמן בן אוסנת
AHARON YOSEF BEN TZIPORAH VARDA                                   אהרן יוסף בן צפורה ורדה
OHED BEN ALISE GANON                                                                  
אוהד בן אליס גנון

OHAD BEN IRIS                                                                                                      אוהד בן איריס
OHED BEN RUT                                                                                        
אוהד בן רות

OHAD BEN RUT ESTHER                                                                  אוהד בן רות אסתר
OHED BEN RACHEL                                                                                 
אוהד בן רחל

OHED YEHUDA BEN TZOFIYA RACHEL                                     אוהד יהודה בן צופיה רחל                        

OHR BEN ORIT                                                                                         אור בן אורית
OHR BEN DEVORAH                                                                                 אור בן דבורה
OHR BEN ZIVA                                                                                            אור בן זיוה
OHR BEN RIK                                                                                                                  אור בן ריקי
ORI BEN RACHEL                                                                                     
אורי בן רחל
ORI BEN SIGALIT                                                                                   אורי בן סיגלית                                                                          

ORI RONEN BEN SAGIT                                                                      אורי רונן בן שגית                                                 URIEL BEN CHAGIT                                                                                                  אוריאל בן חגית

OSHIK MOSHE BEN SHOSHAN ZAHARI                                  אושיק משה בן שושנה זהרי
ACHIYA BEN   NIRA                                                                                 
אחיה בן נירה  

ETON BEN ELENA AHUVIA                                                                            אטון בן אלנה אהוביה

EYAL BEN NITTA                                                                                                            אייל בן נטע

ELAN BEN CHANA                                                                                                        אילן בן חנה

ITTAI BEN MAZAL                                                                                                         איתי בן מזל                                                               ITTAI AHARON BEN ILANA                                                           איתי אהרון בן אילנה   

EL YOSEF CHAYIM BEN CHAYA YEHUDIT                                 אליסף חיים בן חיה יהודית

ELI’EL BEN ARIELLAH                                                                        אליאל בן אריאלה
ELIYAHU BEN CHAVA                                                                               
אליהו בן חוה

ARAD BEN LIORAH                                                                                ארד בן ליאורה
EREZ BEN SARIT                                                                                      ארז בן שרית
ARNON BEN IRIS                                                                                    ארנון בן איריס

ב
BOAZ DAVID BEN FRYE TZIPPORA                                          
בועז דוד בן פייגע ציפורה

BEN BEN CHANA                                                                                                                  בן בן חנה

BEN DAVID BEN ESTHER NELLY                                                      בן דויד בן אסתר נלי
BENAYA BEN PENINA                                                                              בניה בן פנינה
BEN TZION BEN RACHEL                                                                        
בן ציון בן רחל                                             

BAR BEN ROZIT SHOSHANA                                                                         בר בן רוזית שושנה

BAR BEN TAMAR                                                                                        בר בן תמר

BARAK BEN SARA                                                                                    ברק בן שרה

BARAK BEN ANITA                                                                                 ברק בן אניטה

ג  

GAVRIEL BEN NELLY                                                                                                 גבריאל בן נלי

GUY BEN MAGGIE                                                                                        גיא בן מגי
GIL BEN MICHAL                                                                                       
גיל בן מיכל

GAL BEN SIGALIT                                                                                    גל בן סיגלית

 

ד 

DVIR BEN YAEL                                                                                          דביר בן יעל         

DAVID BEN IRIS                                                                                        דוד בן איריס                                     

DAVID BEN MICHAL                                                                                    דוד בן מיכל
DAVID BEN RACHEL                                                                                   
דוד בן רחל

DAVID BEN RINA                                                                                        דוד בן רינה                                                                              

DAVID BINAYAHU BEN SHAINDEL GITTEL                                         דוד בניהו בן שיינדל גיטל

DAVID CHAYIM BEN RONIT                                                                 דוד חיים בן רונית
DAVID YITZCHZK BEN SUSIE                                                                דוד יצחק בן סוזי
DOLEV BEN  KOCHAVA                                                                           דולב בן כוכבה
DORON BEN ILLI                                                                                      
דורון בן אילי

DAN BEN HELEN                                                                                           דן בן הלן

DAN BEN RACHEL                                                                                        דן בן רחל
DANI BEN MILA                                                                                        
דני בן מילה

DANIEL BEN YEHUDIT                                                                         דניאל בן יהודית

DANIEL BEN NAOMI PENINA                                                           דניאל בן נעמי פנינה
DANIEL MENDES BEN MIRIAM                                                       
דניאל מנדס בן מרים

DANIEL MOSHE BEN RACHEL                                                          דניאל משה בן רחל
ה    
ו
ז

ZIV BEN AYELET                                                                                         זיו בן אילת

ח

CHAGAI BEN SARAH                                                                                
חגי בן שרה

CHAGAI BEN VERED                                                                                   חגי בן ורד                  

CHAYITI BEN SARA                                                                                  חייטי בן שרה

CHEN YISRAEL BEN RACHEL                                                              חן ישראל בן רחל

ט    

TAL BEN ORNA                                                                                          טל בן אורנה

TAL BEN ANDY                                                                                            טל בן אנדי
TAL BEN CHAGIT                                                                                       
טל בן חגית

TAL BEN YARDENA                                                                                    טל בן ירדנה                                      

TAL BEN ADI                                                                                                טל בן עדי

TAL BEN RACHEL                                                                                        טל בן רחל                                                  TAL CHAIM BEN TAMARA                                                                   טל חיים בן תמרה

י
YAIR BEN YAEL                                                                                            יאיר בן יעל
YAIR SHIMON BEN NECHAMA                                                           יאיר שמעון בן נחמה
YEHUDA PINCHAS BEN SHLOMO                                                  יהודה פינחס בן שלמה

YEHONATAN BEN TZUFENET                                                                                                יהונתן בן צופנת

YEHOSHUA BEN YANAMAR                                                                      יהושע בן ינמר
YOAV BEN BELLA                                                                                       יואב בן בלה
YOAV BEN GILA                                                                                        
יואב בן גילה

YOAV BEN MICHAL                                                                                                       יואב בן מיכל

YUVAL BEN NURIT                                                                                                       יובל בן נורית                                                     

YOGAV BEN ORLY                                                                                                        יוגב בן אורלי                                                                                      YOGAV BEN SIMA                                                                                      יוגב בן סימה
YONI BEN SARAH                                                                                        יוני בן שרה
YONATAN BEN HAGIT AVIGAIL                                                        יונתן בן חגית אביגיל
YONATAN MENACHEM BEN SHOSHANA                                          יונתן מנחם בן שושנה
YONATAN SHIMON BEN GITTEL                                                        יונתן שמעון בן גיטל
YONATAN SHIMON BEN MASSOUD                                               
יונתן שמעון בן מסעוד

YOSEF BEN AHUVA                                                                                יוסף בן אהובה                                     

YANAI BEN ALIZA                                                                                     ינאי בן עליזה

YANIV BEN YONIT                                                                                      יניב בן יונית                                                  

YAAKOV BEN OSNAT                                                                             יעקב בן אוסנת

YAKOV BEN LEPO                                                                                        יעקב בן לאפו

YAKOV BEN SARAH                                                                                            יעקב בן שרה

YAAKOV YISRAEL BEN CHAIKA FAIGA                                   יעקב ישראל בן חייקא פייגא
YARON BEN MOR                                                     ( ירון בן מור (הנער שנפצע מהרקטה
YISHAI DOV BEN NERI                                                                               ישי דב בן נרי
YISHAI DAN HALEVI BEN NERI                                                             ישי דב הלוי בן נרי
 

כ  
ל

LOREAL BEN CHAGIT                                                                              ליאל בן אילנית
LIOR BEN NITZANA                                                                                  ליאור בן ניצנה
LIOR BEN RUT                                                                                           ליאור בן רות
LIRAN BEN ORLY                                                                                       לירן בן אורלי  

מ
MAOR BEN RONIT                                                                                    
מאור בן רונית

MEIR BEN SARA                                                                                        מאיר בן שרה

MOTTI MORDECHAI BEN RONIT                                                         מוטי מרדכי בן רונית
MOR MORDECHAI BEN SARIT                                                             מור מרדכי בן שרית
MICHOEL YITZCHAK BEN NATALIE NAVAH                                   מיכאל יצחק בן נטלי נאוה
MICHEL BEN FRIEDA                                                                                מיכל בן פרידה
MAOZ CHAIM BEN CHASIA MALKA                                              מעוז חיים בן חסיה מלכה
MORDECHAI BEN BRACHA YEHUDIT                                         
מרדכי חי בן ברכה יהודית

MOSHE BEN CHANA                                                                                    משה בן חנה
MOSHE BEN SIGLIT CHAVIV                                                             משה בן סיגלית חביב
MOSHE ELAD BEN ITIEL                                                                
משה אלעד בן עיתיאל

MATAN BEN YAEL                                                                                          מתן בן יעל
MATANYA BEN RACHEL                                                                                                  מתניה בן רחל

נ

 

NIV BEN AYELET                                                                                           ניו בן אילת
NITZAN BEN MAZAL                                                                                     
ניצן בן מזל

NIR BEN CARMEL                                                                                        ניר בן כרמל
NERIAH BEN CHAVA                                                                                     נריה בן חוה
NIMROD BEN VICTORIA                                                                      
נמרוד בן ויקטוריה

NIMROD BEN ADI                                                                                        נמרוד בן עדי

NIMROD BEN TAMAR                                                                                 נמרוד בן תמר

 

ס   

SIVAN BEN TAL                                                                                               סיון בן טל
SAAR BEN DEVORAH                                                                                סער בן דבורה
STAV BEN BRACHA                                                                                    סתיו בן ברכה

ע 

AIDEN BEN RACHEL                                                                                       עדן בן רחל
OVADIAH BEN REVITAL                                                                
עובדיה בן רויטל                             

OMER BEN BRURIA                                                                                  עומר בן ברוריה                 

OMER YOSEF BEN NITZA                                                                      עומר יוסף בן ניצה
AMOS BEN SIGAL                                                                                      
עמוס בן סיגל

IDO BEN OFRA                                                                                                                 עידו בן עופרה

AIDEN BEN BAT SHEVA                                                                           עידן בן בת שבע

IRA BEN MEIRAV                                                                                         עירא בן מירב                                           

AMISHAV BEN ESTHER                                                                           עמישב בן אסתר

AMIT BEN ILANA                                                                                      עמית בן אילנה                                

AMIT BEN CHAGIT                                                                                                         עמית בן חגית

AMIT BEN MIRIAM                                                                                                         עמית בן מרים                                          
AMITAI BEN MIRIAM
                                                                                 עמיתי בן מרים

AMATZIA BEN CHEDVA                                                                             עמציה בן חדוה

AMATZIA CHAYIM BEN CHEDVAH MALKA                                   עמציה חיים בן חדוה מלכה

פ
צ  

TZURIEL ELIYAHU BEN SHULOMIT                                                 צוריאל אליהו בן שולמית

ק  
ר

RAMI BEN RAMOND                                                                                     רמי בן רמונד
RAN BEN AVIVA                                                                                            רן בן אביבה
RON MENACHEM BEN CHANA                                                                
רון מנחם בן חנה

ROIE BEN AVIVA                                                                                                            רועי בן אביבה  
ROIE BEN IRIS                                                                                                                  רועי בן איריס

ROIE BEN YEHUDIT                                                                                    רועי בן יהודית                      

ROIE YOSEF BEN YEHUDIT                                                                  רועי יוסף בן יהודית

ROTEM BEN ARNONA                                                                              רותם בן ארנונה
RON BEN ZIPORRAH                                                                                   
רן בן ציפורה

RACHAMIM BEN ALIZA CHANA                                                         רחמים בן עליזה חנה

RACHAMIM FELL ON A GRENADE TO SAVE THE OTHER SOLDIERS WITH HIM. 

HIS CONDITION IS SERIOUSLY CRITICAL.  HE IS NEED OF IMMEDIATE TEHILLIM.  

ש

SHAUL BEN ZIVA                                                                                         שאול בן זיוה

SHOHAM BEN YAFFA FLORA                                                                             שוהם בן יפה פלורה

SHACHAR BEN NAOMI SARA                                                                              שחר בן נעומי שרה
SHAI BEN ORLY                                                                                            שי בן אורלי

SHAI BEN GALYAH                                                                                         שי בן גליה

SHAI BEN JACKLYN                                                                                      שי בן ז’קלין

SHAI BEN LILI                                                                                                 שי בן לילי                                                                  

SHAI BEN SIMA                                                                                             שי בן סימה                                                                 

SHAI BEN SARA                                                                                             שי בן שרה                                        

SHALOM MICHAEL YITZCHAK BEN NATALI NA’AVAH            שׁלום מיכאל יצחק בן נטלי נאווה

SHLOMO BEN CHANA                                                                                 שלמה בן חנה

SHLOMO BEN MAZAL                                                                                  שלמה בן מזל                                                                  

SHMUEL YERUCHAM BEN RIVKAH                                                   שמואל ירוחם בן רבקה

SHAKED BEN ORAH                                                                                     שקד בן אורה


ת

TOM BEN LEAH                                                                                                                      תום בן לאה

Caring for a Wounded Combat Dog 28July2014

Segev Partush http://www.facebook.com/segevpartosh 28July2014

Segev Partush http://www.facebook.com/segevpartosh 28July2014

Shabbat chesed for soldiers

The father of a Chayal (soldier) who is now in Gaza told how his son was informed on Friday that his unit will not be going home for Shabbos, which was a problem because they did not have any provisions for Shabbos. The father ran to the supermarket to buy some things, as much dips and salads as he could, then he stopped at the schwarma place in Petach Tikva. He asked for a portion to be put into an aluminum tray and explained that it was for his son who is in Gaza without food for Shabbos. The owner said to him “what do you mean for your son? How many soldiers are in his group?” The father answered “70” The Schwarma place owner called all of his workers. They prepared all the schwarma they had, brought out all of their meat, fried schnitzels, prepared Moroccan salads and chips and within an hour he and all of his workers had emptied the entire restaurant and given it over to the father. The father, a religious guy who has seen Chesed in his life, just stood there crying and thanking him.

Spontaneous Pro-Israel Rally Erupts in Response to Protestors

Arutz Sheva http://www.israelnationalnews.com/

The Jewish United Nation

What can the ‘Nine Days’ and 9th of Av teach us about Jewish unity as Israel fights for its survival?

By Nechemia Skurow 04August2014 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/183699#.U-Cbxbuk2b8

As we enter the “nine days” of the month of Av, Jews around the world remember the events of this time almost 2,000 years ago, when Jerusalem was destroyed (in 70 CE), the Temple was razed to the ground and the city’s population massacred or exiled.

In “Palestine” (the name given by Rome to the newly-conquered Judea), reactions to the trauma were diverse. With anti-Roman sentiment at its height, some Jewish revolutionaries continued their resistance until the fall of Masada in 74 CE, some fled to the Diaspora or underground to nurture hopes of a future uprising. In an air of despair and abandonment, others became ascetics. Even Jews who dwelled in the Holy Land outside of Jerusalem and weren’t affected much physically by the Jewish revolt and its aftermath surely felt the ripple effect of emotional shock brought on by the morale and confidence of a nation badly damaged.

Meanwhile in the Jewish Diaspora, in the communities of Alexandria, Damascus, Babylon, Cyprus, Antioch, and many more, without an active role or stake in the revolt, it was business as usual. Cut off from life in the Holy Land, by 70 CE Jews around the ancient Roman world were well integrated into their host countries, serving a variety of economic roles. Meanwhile, due to their large numbers and economic influence, Rome had long granted Diaspora Jews religious tolerance and the right to maintain their own organizations, administration and judiciary. Instead of, in the face of persecution, idealistically clinging to the national character of Jewish tradition, as symbolized by Jerusalem and the Temple, they were busy developing their own independent identity in their own mode of worship.

In short, in the ancient Jewish Diaspora, far away and disconnected from their Land, even for those who held onto a national identity, what could they really do to help when the revolt, and subsequent destruction, took place?

Fast forward to today, the Jewish people in the Land of Israel are once again fighting for their survival, and there are obvious parallels regarding the circumstances describing the ancient Jewish Diaspora to the current modern day version. However, in the information age of the 21 century, the world is connected like never before, and Diaspora Jewry can actually play a very active role in what is happening in their ancient national homeland. In fact, the world wide Jewish unity we are witnessing today in the face of another existential threat is a major tikkun (spiritual fix) for the sinat chinam (baseless hatred) that originally led to the Second Temple’s destruction. So what can you do? Here are three ideas:

1) Donate to IDF Soldiers: One of the best ways to contribute to the IDF war against terror is by helping keep the morale of soldiers up in the face of the fear and stress of war. Organizations such as LIBI or FIDF provide educational, religious, medical and recreational needs to Israeli soldiers. Over the last few weeks, they have been working around the clock to receive, scan, and ship gift packages donated from all over the world to the soldiers currently serving in Gaza.

2) Hasbara: Today, while much of the “official” Hasbara work is carried out through non-governmental organizations such as Stand With Us and The Israel Project, or social media outlets, such as Israel in My Heart, every individual has the power to influence the conversation taking place around the world. There is no less of a war taking place in the minds of people everywhere, and in the face of constant terrorist propaganda and Western media bias, everyone’s voice is needed. Learn the facts and spread the truth.

3) Buy Israeli Products: International Boycott Israel campaigns are encouraging people to divest of Israeli investments and to stop buying Israeli products. In addition, relentless rocket attacks are taking their toll on Israelis both emotionally and economically. Buying Israeli products today is a potent way to counteract these campaigns of ignorant hatred, to strengthen the Israeli economy and unite with Israel in the war against terror.

Support Israel today!

Those We Lost – Oseh Shalom

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo

IDF soldiers killed in Operation Protective Edge

03 Aug 2014 http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Terrorism/Pages/IDF-soldiers-killed-in-Operation-Protective-Edge.aspx

​Since the beginning of the ground operation in Gaza, 64 IDF soldiers and officers have been killed.

IDF  Operation Protective Edge

IDF Operation Protective Edge

Friday, July 18, 2014
Friday July 18, 2014 Staff Sgt. Eitan Barak (20) of Herzlia was killed on Friday night in Beit Hannun in the northern Gaza Strip.


Eitan Barak

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Maj. (res) Amotz Greenburg (45) of Hod Hasharon and Sgt. Adar Barsano (20) of Nahariya were killed in a battle with terrorists who infiltrated Israeli territory through a terror tunnel near Kibbutz Kissufim located near the center of the Gaza Strip. The terrorists who had infiltrated Israel in an attempt to carry out an attack on Israeli civilians, opened fire on the Israeli unit with machine guns and an anti-tank missile. Two officers were wounded in the battle and were transferred to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva.

Staff Sgt. Bnaya Rubel (20) of Holon was killed in a battle with Hamas gunmen in southern Gaza.
2nd-Lt. Bar Rahav (21) of Ramat Yishai, an Engineering Corps officer cadet was killed by an antitank missile fired at the vehicle he was operating. Rahav was posthumously promoted to second lieutenant.
         
Amotz Greenburg     Adar Barasano       Bnayahu Rubel          Bar Rahav

Sunday, July 20, 2014
Thirteen Golani Brigade soldiers were killed in in different incidents in and around Shujaiyeh in the eastern Gaza Strip. Two US citizens are among the fallen. In one incident north of Shujaiyeh, Golani troops were ambushed and an RPG was fired at their APC, killing seven and severely wounding two, with one missing. In another incident, three soldiers were killed, including two officers in the battalion. Three more soldiers were killed in another gun battle nearby. In another incident, an anti-tank rocket was fired at a building in Shujaiyeh where troops were staying, killing three and wounding many more. The commander of the Golani Brigade, Colonel Raslan Alian, was among the wounded.
Maj. Tsafrir Bar-Or (32) of Holon, Capt. Tzvi Kaplan (28) of Kibbutz Meirav, Staff Sgt. Gilad Yaakobi (21) of Kiriat Ono, Staff Sgt. Oz Mendelovitch (20) of Atzmon, Staff Sgt. Nissim Sean Carmelli (21) of Ra’anana (originally from South Padre Island, Texas), Staff Sgt. Moshe Melako (20) of Jerusalem, Sgt. Max Steinburg (24) of Beer Sheva (originally from Los Angeles, California), Staff Sgt. Shachar Tase (20) of Pardesiya, Staff Sgt. Daniel Pomerantz (20) of Kfar Azar, Sgt. Shon Mondshine (19) of Tel Aviv, Sgt. Ben Oanounou (19) of Ashdod, Staff Sgt. Oren Noach (22), Sgt. Oron Shaul (19) of Poriah Illit.
          
   Tsafrir Bar-Or        Tzvi Kaplan         Gilad Yaakobi          Oz Mendelovitch

        
Nissim Sean Carmelli      Moshe Maleko     Max Steinberg    Shachar Tase

      
Daniel Pomerantz   Shon Mondshine     Ben Oanounou           Oren Noach


     Oron Shaul

Monday, July 21, 2014

Nine IDF soldiers were killed today in the fighting. Four were killed near Kibbutz Nir Am in a firefight with terrorists who had infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip. An additional three Golani Brigade soldiers were killed in two separate incidents in the Sujaiyeh neighborhood of Gaza. Two others were killed in other battles in the Gaza Strip.
The soldiers killed in the Nir-Am incident were: Lt. Col. Dolev Keidar (38) from Modi’in, Sgt. Nadav Goldmacher (23) from Be’er Sheva, Warrant Officer Baynesain Kasahun (39) from Netivot and 1st Lt. Yuval Heiman (21) from Efrat. The Golani soldiers killed in the fighting in Sujaiyeh were Staff Sgt. Jordan Ben Simon (22) from Ashkelon, Staff Sgt. Tal Ifrach (21) from Rishon Letzion and Staff Sgt. Yuval Dagan (22) from Kfar Sava. Staff Sgt. Oded Ben Sira (22) of Nir Etzion and Master Sgt. Ohad Shemesh (27) of Beit Elazari were also killed in the fighting in Gaza.
        
     Dolev Keidar     Nadav Goldmacher  Baynesain Kasahun   Yuval Heiman
      
Jordan Ben Simon  Tal Ifrach     Yuval Dagan   Oded Ben Sira
 
Ohad Shemesh
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Two Tank Corps officers and a paratrooper were killed in the fighting in Gaza: Capt. Dimitri Levitas (26) of Jerusalem and Gshur, Lt. Natan Cohen (23) of Modiin and Staff Sgt. Evyatar Tourjeman (20) of Beit Shean.
     
   Dimitri Levitas          Natan Cohen     Evyatar Tourjeman

Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Three IDF paratroopers were killed in the fighting in Gaza: Lt. Paz Eliyahu (22) of Kibbutz Evron, Staff Sgt. Li Mat of Eilat and Staff Sgt. Shahar Dauber of Kibbutz Ginegar.
    
       Paz Eliyahu              Li Mat            Shahar Dauber

Friday, July 25, 2014
Four soldiers were killed today in the fighting in the Gaza Strip:
Master Sergeant (Res.) Yair Ashkenazy (36) of Rehovot, Staff Sgt. Guy Levy (21) of Kfar Vradim, Staff Sgt. Guy Boyland (21) from Kibbutz Ginosar and Staff Sgt. Amit Yaori (20) of Jerusalem.

  
   Yair Ahkenazi          Guy Levi          Guy Borland         Amit Yaori

Saturday, July 26, 2014
Six soldiers died today as a result of the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Four were killed in the combat in Gaza: Roi Peles (21) of Tel Aviv, Staff Sgt. Avraham Greentzweig (21) of Petah Tikva, Staff Sgt. Gal Besson (21) of Holon and Sergeant First Class (res.) Barak Refael Degorker (27) of Gan Yavne.
Two succumbed to wounds sustained in the fighting: Chief Warrant Officer Rami Cahlon (39) of Hadera and Cpt. Liad Lavi (20) of Moshav Talmei Yosef.
          
        Roi Peles       Avraham Greentzweig   Gal Basson     Barak Refael Degorker  
  
    Rami Cahlon              Liad Lavi

Monday, July 28, 2014
Ten soldiers were killed today in the fighting in and around the Gaza Strip.
Four soldiers, Staff Sgt. Eliav Eliyahu Haim Kahlon (22) of Safed, Cprl. Meidan Maymon Biton (20) of Netivot, Staff Sgt. Adi Briga (23) of Moshav Beit Shikma and Cprl. Niran Cohen (20) of Tiberias were killed by mortar fire along the Gaza border.
One soldier, Staff Sgt. Moshe Davino (20) of Jerusalem,  was killed in combat in the southern Gaza Strip. Five others were killed in combat when terrorists infiltrated Israel via a tunnel from Gaza and attempted to execute a terror attack against a civilian target: Sgt. Nadav Raimond (19), Sgt. Daniel Kedmi (18) of Tzofim, Sgt.  Barkey Ishai Shor (21) of Jerusalem, Sgt. Sagi Erez (19) of Kiryat Ata and Sgt. Dor Dery (18) of Jerusalem.
           
    Eliav Kahlon        Meidan Maymon Biton    Adi Briga               Niran Cohen

        
     Moshe Davino       Nadav Raimond      Daniel Kedmi        Barkay Ishay Shor

  
         Sagi Erez              Dor Dery

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Three IDF soldiers of the ‘Maglan’ unit were killed in the fighting in the southern Gaza Strip: Staff Sgt. Guy Algranati (20) of Tel Aviv, Staff Sgt. Matan Gotlib (21) of Rishon LeZion and Staff Sgt. Omer Hay (21) of Savion.

     
Guy Algranati           Matan Gotlib           Omer Hay

Thursday, July 31 2014
Five soldiers of the 188th “Barak” (Lightning) Armored Brigade were killed by mortar fire on the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip: Capt. Omri Tal (22) of Yehud, Capt. (res.) Liran Adir (Edry) (31) of Azuz, Sgt. Major (res.) Daniel Marsh (22) of Rishon LeZion, Staff Sgt. Shai Kushnir (20) of Kiryat Motzkin and Staff Sgt. Noam Rosenthal (20) of Meitar.
          
       Omri Tal            Liran Adir (Edry)     Daniel Marsh           Shay Kushnir
 
     Noam Rosenthal

Friday, 1 August 2014
Three soldiers of the Givati brigade were killed fighting terrorists in the southern Gaza Strip: Maj. Benaya Sarel (26) of Kiryat Arba, Second Lt. Hadar Goldin (23) of Kfar Saba, and Staff Sgt. Liel Gidoni (20) of Jerusalem.

     
    Benaya Sarel         Hadar Goldin          Liel Gidoni 

Israel Deserves an Apology

From Mashiach’s Wife Website:

The simple truth. RETWEET pic.twitter.com/sF7K4XOdWV

The simple truth. RETWEET pic.twitter.com/sF7K4XOdWV

“Israel Deserves an Apology”

1 Av 5774 Rosh Chodesh Av

This is a share from Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi’s facebook page…

I am sick of apologizing for Israel’s right to defend itself. I am sick of the word “ceasefire” when all that really means is “time for Hamas to build more rockets” while we stand by helplessly. I am sick of the UN calling this an Israeli-Palestinian War when all along it’s clearly been a prolonged terrorist attack that the IDF is courageously trying to stop. I’m sick of people criticizing Israel for killing innocent people when they have done more than any country to warn Gazans and have even brought the gunmen into their own hospitals. I’m sick of apologizing for being a Jew. For being part of a nation whose kindness and compassion shine through even on the battlefield.

Somehow the world is turning everything around. Turning the terrorists into victims. Turning the attacked into the aggressor. This is the anti-Semitism of today. A hatred and disgust with Israel no matter what we do.
Now I ask you. Who should be apologizing? The millions of Jews running for cover as rockets attempting to smash into their school yards and tear apart their homes come raining down? The parents of all the soldiers who have tragically died in this frustrating, dangerous ground war in Gaza, where every move is calculated and re-calculated to prevent the loss of life?

Should the soldiers apologize for risking their lives to fight terrorism while the rest of us shake our heads over the news? I am sick of apologizing for Israel when it is Israel that really deserves an apology.

Israel deserves an apology from the media for falsely portraying them as aggressors. From the Jews who have turned their backs on their own people when they are needed most. From the terrorists themselves, for the constant panic and fear, for the horrific loss of life, for destroying our homes, for diverting our planes, for turning our lives upside down, and for putting innocent Arab lives in mortal danger. Israel deserves an apology.

And I also want to apologize to Israel and her courageous people. I am sorry for not defending you loudly enough. For not doing more to speak up against the staged newspaper photographs and the false criticisms. I am sorry for the hours in which I forget about the pain and the suffering that you are going through. I am sorry, dear parents of all the fallen soldiers. I am sorry for your aching grief and loss, sorry that you had to sacrifice your sons in this war for Jewish survival. Because they were not just fighting for Israel, they were fighting for all of us.

I apologize to all of you, who live in the only place in the world where every Jew is welcomed home, that you are not recognized on a daily basis for holding up the fort for all of us, for teaching your children to remain calm under fire, for sending your sons to guard our borders, for holding onto your faith when everyone around you is intent on taking it away.

Thank you Rabbi Mizrachi for your courage to always tell the truth!

Joan Rivers — GOES OFF on Epic Israel/Palestine Rant

New Declassified Report Exposes Hamas Human Shield Policy from IsraelDefenseForces

Arutz Sheva http://www.israelnationalnews.com/

Missionaries Harassing IDF Soldiers Manning Iron Dome

IDF soldiers fighting the battle against Hamas are being forced into another battle – against missionaries. ‘They’ve crossed a red line’.
By Moshe Cohen 27July2014 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/183395#.U9XLHruk2b8
Even as IDF soldiers grit their teeth to fight a tough war against Israel’s Hamas enemies, they have other threats to worry about – like missionaries seeking to convert IDF soldiers, preventing them from concentrating on their mission.

 

Anti-missionary group Yad L’Achim said Sunday that it had gotten numerous complaints from residents of Ashkelon and from soldiers that missionaries had made a nuisance of themselves several times at an Iron Dome installation.

 

The location of the installations are supposed to be secret, but because Israelis can see where the missiles that intercept Hamas rockets are fired from, the location of the Iron Dome batteries is an “open secret.” Israelis, anxious to see the vaunted system that had prevented Hamas rockets from wreaking havoc on Israeli cities, flock to the launching sites to cheer on soldiers and bring them refreshments and gifts.

 

The missionaries have come as well, said Yad L’achim – but their purpose in coming is not to cheer soldiers on, but to preach Christianity to them. Such incidents have been happening throughout the country where Iron Dome installations are located, the organization said, with missionaries harassing soldiers before, during, and after they finish their shifts.

 

Besides preaching, the missionaries distribute what they promote as “holy books” to the soldiers – New Testaments, in Hebrew. Yad L’achim volunteers have been collecting the books and dealing with them in an appropriate manner, the group said.

 

The missionary preaching hasn’t been making much of an impression on the soldiers from an ideological or religious viewpoint, soldiers reported to Yad L’achim, but they do find the preaching very annoying.

 

In a letter to Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, Yad L’achim demanded that the missionary activity be stopped. “This activity is unprecedented and has crossed all red lines,” the group said. “We respectfully ask that these people be banned from areas where soldiers serve and congregate.”

14 Ways Hamas Weaponizes Women, Children, Animals, Against Israel

20July2014 http://grid.pjmedia.com/?cmd=view-show-profile-article&id=1934

14 Ways Hamas Weaponizes Women, Children, Animals, Against Israel http://grid.pjmedia.com/?cmd=view-show-profile-article&id=1934

14 Ways Hamas Weaponizes Women, Children, Animals, Against Israel http://grid.pjmedia.com/?cmd=view-show-profile-article&id=1934

Brit. Col. Richard Kemp on operation Protective Edge

Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi – The Debate Part 1

Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi – The Debate Part 2

An Inside Look Into Life Under Hamas’ Tunnel Threat

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo

Strikes on houses in Gaza used for military purposes – Legal aspects

11 July 2014 https://mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/State/Law/Pages/Strikes-on-houses-in-Gaza-used-for-military-purposes—Legal-aspects.aspx

In many cases, Hamas uses its commanders’ own homes, where their families and other civilians reside, for military purposes. When such houses are used for military purposes, they may become legitimate military targets under international law.

Throughout the initial stages of Operation “Protective Edge” – initiated in order to restore security to Israel’s civilian population under constant rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip – the IDF struck a number of houses throughout the Gaza Strip belonging to Hamas operatives used for military purposes.

Hamas conducts its military activities deep within residential areas in the Gaza Strip. By doing so, Hamas exploits the IDF’s desire and efforts to avoid harm to the Palestinian civilian population. In many cases, Hamas uses its commanders’ own homes, where their families and other civilians may be residing, for military purposes. These houses may be used for activities such as weapons storage, command and control centers and communications. The cynical use of such homes can be seen in the following video, where a secondary explosion can be identified as the result of the detonation of weapons stored under the building.

When such houses are used for military purposes, they may become legitimate military targets under international law. The IDF only aims its attacks against legitimate military targets as defined under the relevant rules of international law. In order to accurately determine military targets, the IDF employs advanced methods, including multiple levels of intelligence, the provision of legal advice and extensive prior training provided to operational commanders.

Even where a house is considered a lawful military target, the IDF takes great efforts to minimize any potential harm to the surrounding civilian population. It does so by using tools that may be available at the time, such as real time visual coverage in order to assess the civilian presence at the time of the attack, by carefully choosing weaponry and ammunition which will help to minimize any harm caused and by providing advance warnings in certain instances. Many of the IDF’s efforts in this regard go over and above its legal obligations and the accepted practice of other militaries conducting hostilities in urban areas. Unfortunately, many of the IDF’s attempts to provide advance warning are exploited by Hamas, who uses civilians as human shields in order to deter attacks.

Further, where a commander determines that an attack is expected to cause collateral damage which would be excessive in relation to the military advantage anticipated, the attack will not be carried out.

Nevertheless, regrettably, the IDF cannot guarantee that no civilian harm at all will be caused during its operations. When terrorist organizations such as Hamas deliberately use civilian homes for terrorist purposes, it is unavoidable that some civilians will be harmed when the IDF acts against these targets. Unfortunately, Hamas exploits such instances to claim that the IDF deliberately seeks to harm the civilian population in the Gaza Strip – but fails to acknowledge that it has intentionally put these citizens in grave danger by masking their terrorist activities behind a civilian veil.

The IDF will continue to conduct its operations in full accordance with international law – including by only attacking legitimate military targets, and will continue its efforts to minimize the harm to the civilian population. In contrast, Hamas deliberately and constantly fires indiscriminately towards Israel’s civilian population, and celebrates when Israel’s civilians are harmed. These actions constitute the most heinous war crimes. The IDF will continue to defend its citizens from such terrorist activity.

IDF Pinpoint Strike on Weapons Storage Facility in Gaza

Targeting civilians – a crime against humanity

Palestinian Envoy to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Ibrahim Khreisheh was interviewed last week (July 9) on Palestinian Authority TV (interview translated into English by MEMRI,The Middle East Media Research Institute).

He said: “The missiles that are now being launched against Israel, each and every missile constitutes a crime against humanity, whether it hits or missed, because it is directed at civilian targets…Targeting civilians, be it one civilian or a thousand, is considered a crime against humanity.”

Relating to Israel’s mode of operation in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge he stated: “Please note that many of our people in Gaza appeared in TV and said that the Israeli army warned them to evacuate their homes before bombardment. In such a case, if someone is killed, the law considers it a mistake rather than intentional killing, because (the Israelis) followed the legal procedures.”

Translation of the leaflets dropped over northern Gaza.

Translation of the leaflets dropped over northern Gaza.

New map confirms: the Shuja’iya neighborhood is a terrorist stronghold where Hamas uses residents as human shields. pic.twitter.com/NVTPEbydq4

New map confirms: the Shuja’iya neighborhood is a terrorist stronghold where Hamas uses residents as human shields. pic.twitter.com/NVTPEbydq4

Breitbart.com logo

THIRD Rocket Arsenal Found At UN School In Gaza

29July2014 http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/07/29/THIRD-Rocket-Arsenal-Found-At-UN-School-In-Gaza

The United Nations Relief & Works Agency For Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced Tuesday that another rocket stockpile has been found at one of its schools in Gaza. This instance marks the third time since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge that a weapons arsenal has been found at an UNRWA school in Gaza.

Dan Williams-tweet-29July2014-UNRWA says rockets found on Tuesday

Dan Williams-tweet-29July2014-UNRWA says rockets found on Tuesday

 

UNRWA has yet to place blame on any individuals or organizations for placing the weapons stockpile within a children’s school. The UN body refused to do so on the past two previous occasions as well.

 

The UN body, after both previous findings, has handed the rockets it had found back into the possession of “the local police,” otherwise known as the terrorist group Hamas.

 

This week, UNRWA supplies and building materials had been found in Hamas’s tunnel infrastructure, which has been used to smuggle weapons and carry out attacks on the State of Israel.

 

The UN agency has a well-documented history of using their US taxpayer-funded facilities to promote anti-Israel and anti-Semitic propaganda. It has in the past been accused of aiding and abetting radical Islamists in Gaza and elsewhere.

 

UNRWA was created in 1949 to provide relief and public works programs for displaced Arab refugees that had formerly inhabited the British mandate of Palestine. UNRWA is currently the largest agency-subdivision of the entire UN, employing over 30,000 staff. UNRWA has objectively failed in its primary goal of finding homes for those it has deemed “refugees”. From 1949 to present day, refugees recognized by UNRWA has grown from 750,000 to 5,000,000 people.

NDTV exclusive – how Hamas assembles and fires rockets

Published on 05August2014
Minutes before the 72-hour ceasefire began, this rocket was fired from deep within a civilian zone.
Watch more videos: http://www.ndtv.com/video?yt

They waited until they left Gaza to air the report.

This report is being aired on NDTV and published on ndtv.com after our team left the Gaza strip – Hamas has not taken very kindly to any reporting of its rockets being fired. But just as we reported the devastating consequences of Israel’s offensive on Gaza’s civilians, it is equally important to report on how Hamas places those very civilians at risk by firing rockets deep from the heart of civilian zones.

A France 24 TV journalist – who famously ducked for cover during a live interview when a Hamas rocket was fired right next to him – has also gone on the record to report how the rocket which caught him off guard was launched in a crowded civilian area and right in front of a UN building.

Exclusive: Hamas rocket launch pad revealed near Gaza homes

Published on 05August2014
FRANCE 24 has exclusive footage of a Hamas rocket launching pad that appears to prove the militant group has been firing from areas heavily populated with civilians.
Comment:

The occurrence proves Israel’s contention that Hamas fires rockets from among civilians, using them as human shields and manipulating any civilian casualties that are thus incurred, in order to make Israel look bad.

It’s A Small World

It´s A Small World

It´s A Small World

Its a Small World Music – Disneyland

The Ten Plagues That Are Hitting America Right Now

22July2014 Submitted by Michael Snyder of The American Dream blog,

Why are so many plagues hitting the United States all of a sudden?  Yes, one can always point out bad stuff that is happening somewhere in the country, but right now we are facing a nightmarish combination of crippling drought, devastating wildfires, disastrous viruses, dying crops and superbugs that scientists don’t know how to kill.  And as you will see, we even have a plague of flies down in Mississippi.  So what in the world is going on?  Is this just a case of bad luck, or is something else happening?  At the conclusion of this article, please feel free to tell me what you think.  The following are ten plagues that are hitting America right now…

#1 The Plague Of Flies In The Upper Mississippi River Valley

This is perhaps the least dangerous plague, but it is also one of the most interesting.  Just recently, a plague of flies was so thick in the upper Mississippi River valley that it showed up on radar

The mayflies were detectable on radar around 845 pm and reports in the towns and cities began rolling in of the swarming and piles of mayflies. Numerous videos and pictures were circulating on social media, some of which are posted below as well.

The radar detected the flies about 845 pm, emanating from the river (the source) with echo values similar to that of light-moderate rain (35-40 dBZ). With a general south-to-north wind flow above the surface, the mayflies quickly moved north once in the air. As the flies dispersed moving north-northeast, they also gained altitude with some of the echo being detected as far north as Black River Falls and as high as 2500 feet above ground.

By late evening, mayflies were swarming in La Crosse, La Crescent, Stoddard and points up and down the river. While the emergence of mayflies from their river bottom mud dwelling can occur at various times through the warm season depending on the species, this particular emergence was that of the larger black/brown Bilineata species.

#2 The Chikungunya Virus

As I wrote about the other day, down in Florida health officials have discovered the very first confirmed cases of the chikungunya virus to be transmitted locally.  In other words, it is now being passed to people that have not even traveled out of the country.

An epidemic of the virus has already been declared down in Puerto Rico, and authorities are deeply concerned about the possibility of one up here as well.

Already, cases of the virus have been reported in 30 different states and the total number of cases in the U.S. is more than five times higher than in any other recent year.

If you live in an area that has a lot of mosquitos, you might want to be very, very careful right about now because this is a virus that is exceedingly painful

With illness onset, the person develops high fever, chills, and joint pain, followed in some by a rash on the trunk, limbs and face lasting 3-4 days. Muscle and joint pain last about one week. Joint pain is often severe and in some people lasts longer, up to several months.

#3 The Wildfires Out West

The massive wildfires in Washington, Oregon and western Canada have spread clouds of smoke over vast areas of the northwest United States in recent days.  The following excerpt comes from a recent CNN report

Wildfires spanning almost 170,000 acres are driving hundreds of people from their homes in Washington state and across the border in Canada, officials said.

Washington authorities say the fires surged overnight to 168,713 acres in the state. The flames have encroached on towns.

Janet Pearce of the Washington state Department of Natural Resources said the four fires had not been contained as of Friday morning. An estimated 80 homes were destroyed and cell phone service was knocked out.

#4 The Drought In California

US-drought-conditions-2014-07-29_usdm http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

US-drought-conditions-2014-07-29_usdm http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

The nightmarish multi-year drought in the state of California just continues to get even worse.

This week it was reported that 81 percent of California is now experiencing “extreme drought” or worse.

Three months ago, that number was just 68 percent.

And we are being told that downtown Los Angeles is now the driest that it has been since rain records began in 1877.

For much, much more on this, please see my recent article entitled “20 Signs The Epic Drought In The Western United States Is Starting To Become Apocalyptic“.

#5 The Virus That Has Killed Millions Of Our Pigs

A horrific pig virus known as porcine epidemic diarrhea came over from China a little over a year ago.

Since then, it has killed about 7 million pigs, and approximately 100,000 more are dying each week.

#6 Citrus Greening

Have you ever heard of citrus greening disease?

Perhaps not, but it has gotten so bad down in Florida that experts are now saying that the entire citrus industry in the state “could be destroyed”

“It’s horrible — it’s a disaster,” says Fred Gmitter, a professor of horticulture science at the University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center.

It might be time to kiss your OJ goodbye, unless science steps in to save the day.

At least 70% of Florida’s citrus trees are already infected by the disease, known as citrus greening, huanglongbing, or occasionally just with an ominous “it,” as in “It’s here.”

Florida’s citrus crop this year is the lowest it’s been in 30 years, and agricultural authorities have continued to lower their production estimates. Orange-juice prices are up nearly 20% this year alone and will continue to rise. The disease was a major factor in the lime shortage that made the price of a box of Persian limes jump from $18 to $85 last December. Prices could jump higher for oranges. Researchers and growers say that if a cure isn’t found, the entire $9 billion Florida citrus industry could be destroyed.

#7 Bananas Going Extinct?

You bananas are not safe either.

According to CNBC, the TR4 fungus is spreading so rapidly that it could eventually totally wipe out the variety of bananas that we find in our grocery stores today…

Banana lovers take note: The world’s supply of the fruit is under attack from a fungus strain that could wipe out the popular variety that Americans eat.

“It’s a very serious situation,” said Randy Ploetz, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida who in 1989 originally discovered a strain of Panama disease, called TR4, that may be growing into a serious threat to U.S. supplies of the fruit and Latin American producers.

“There’s nothing at this point that really keeps the fungus from spreading,” he said in an interview with CNBC.

While there are nearly 1,000 varieties of bananas, the most popular is the Cavendish, which accounts for 45 percent of the fruit’s global crop—and the one Americans mostly find in their supermarkets.

#8 The Number Of Earthquakes Is Increasing

For a long time, scientists tried to deny that the number of earthquakes is increasing.

But now, the USGS is finally admitting that the number of big earthquakes has doubled

If you think there have been more earthquakes than usual this year, you’re right. A new study finds there were more than twice as many big earthquakes in the first quarter of 2014 as compared with the average since 1979.

“We have recently experienced a period that has had one of the highest rates of great earthquakes ever recorded,” said lead study author Tom Parsons, a research geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Menlo Park, California.

Fortunately, most of the earthquakes in the U.S. so far this year have been relatively small or have been in isolated areas.

But they have been popping up in very unusual areas (such as Oklahoma), and as seismic activity along the Ring of Fire continues to increase, it is probably only a matter of time before one of our major cities gets hit with a major tragedy.

#9 Superbugs

Thanks at least in part to the massive overuse of antibiotics, a new generation of superbugs is arising.  Scientists have no way to kill these superbugs, and according to experts they are finding their way “into healthcare facilities nationwide”

Drug-resistant superbug infections have reached near-epidemic levels across U.S. hospitals, with an alarming 500% increase now documented in a study just published in the August issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America).

Lead author of the study, Dr. Joshua Thaden, warned “This dangerous bacteria is finding its way into healthcare facilities nationwide… A CRE epidemic is fast approaching… Even this marked increase likely underestimates the true scope of the problem given variations in hospital surveillance practices.”

The study also found that an astonishing 94 percent of CRE infections were caused by healthcare activities or hospital procedures.

#10 Fukushima

The Fukushima nuclear disaster is the gift that just keeps on giving.

Hundreds of tons of radioactive water are being released into the Pacific on a continual basis, and this could potentially affect our oceans and our food chain for generations to come.

But it is a “slow motion disaster” that is already “old news”, so most Americans don’t think about it anymore.  But the truth is that there is a lot of evidence that it should be taken very seriously in this country.  For much more on this, please see this article.

In Japan, of course, things are even worse.

In fact, one Japanese doctor that was working in Tokyo says that radiation sickness is rampant in that city

Since December 2011, I have conducted thyroid ultrasound examinations, thyroid function tests, general blood tests and biochemical tests on about 2000 people, mostly families in the Tokyo metropolitan area expressing concerns on the effects of radiation. I have observed that white blood cells, especially neutrophils, are decreasing among children under the age of 10. There are cases of significant decline in the number of neutrophils in 0-1 year-olds born after the earthquake (<1000). In both cases, conditions tend to improve by moving to Western Japan (Neutrophils 0–>4500). Patients report nosebleed, hair loss, lack of energy, subcutaneous bleeding, visible urinary hemorrhage, skin inflammations, coughs and various other non-specific symptoms.

And this Japanese doctor believes that things are so dire that he says that the entire city of Tokyo should be evacuated…

Residents of Tokyo are unfortunately not in the position to pity the affected regions of Tohoku because they are victims themselves. Time is running short. I took an earlier step forward and evacuated to the west. My fellow doctors of medicine, I am waiting for you here. And to the people in Eastern Japan still hesitating, all my support goes to facilitating and enabling your evacuation, relocation, or a temporary relief in Western Japan.

Just like with Chernobyl, this radioactive material is going to silently make people sick and kill people all over globe for years to come, and most of them will never have any idea what is really happening to them.

“There IS a God!”

27July2014  The following is shared on Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi’s facebook page… https://www.facebook.com/RabbiYosefMizrachi

A true and amazing story told by Ohad Shaked:

I received a phone call on Sunday from “A,” one of the Iron Dome commanders who was a student of mine about 6 years ago. I was glad he called. “Where can a person learn Torah in Ramat Gan?” He asked me leaving me baffled being that he was far from Torah and mitzvot. “I’m going to be released in a couple of months, and I want to learn in a Yeshiva – I saw the Almighty with my own eyes!” He said, nothing more and nothing less. “What happened?” I asked him. “A Missile was fired from Gaza. The Iron Dome can detect where the missile is going to fall within a 200 meter radius. This particular Missile was heading to the Azrieli Towers, or to the railroad tracks. Either way, hundreds could have paid with their lives!

We sent the first “dome” and it missed. Then the second as well as the third dome missed, this is a very rare occurrence. To date, only two other such cases occurred. I was in shock! We had four seconds until there is no way back and the missile would hit. We had already informed and dispatched emergency services, the police and the fire department, to the location.” Then the commander spoke excitedly as I kept on listening. “Suddenly, without any preliminary design from the Iron Dome system (which calculates the possible wind currents, etc.) a strong eastern wind blew – a wind that we have no idea where it came from and cast the missile right into the sea. We were all in shock!!! I stood up and started screaming ‘There is a G-d’! ‘There is a G-d!’ ‘There is a G-d’!!! I saw this miracle with my own eyes. No one told me about it, it was not reported to me. I saw the Hand of Hashem fling the missile into the sea!

Of course this was not reported for security reasons, but it’s enough to witness the miracles with our own eyes to know there is Hashem (G-d). I ran to one of the religious soldiers and asked him to put on tefillin. I took it upon myself to keep Shabbat, and that was the very best Shabbat I have ever had.” This is what he told me. I was so excited that it even brought a tear to my eye. “Ashrecha” (praisworthy are you) I said to him, “that you merited to witness this incident and to understand that it’s from Hashem (G-d)!”