I went to the funeral of the chayal boded, Michael Levin hy"d today. I did not make my usual tisha b'av afternoon trip to the kotel. I felt going to the funeral and paying respects to a soldier who was all alone in Israel, who came back from a visit to the US just so he could participate in the war and do his part in protecting us, was appropriate.
The area on Har Herzl was packed with people. Most I am sure were like me, in other words people did not know him, but wanted to pay respects to such a gibor yisrael, who gave his life to protect us.
Overall, this was a very difficult 9 Av for Klal Yisrael...
These are a few pictures I took at the funeral.
Very emotional pictures, very nice you were able to attend.
ReplyDeleteHis family was very touched by all the strangers who came. I saw it on Fox news. His mother said she first thought to bring his body to the states for burial, then realized he was where he would want to be. And she said something like, Look how many people came, who didn't even know him, and they are staying by his grave even after we leave.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it was tough for everyone there. May we all be in Yerushalyim next year with only tears of joy.
ReplyDeletethats the program i'm joining
ReplyDeleteIt is good to know that she was able to appreciate our attendance. (I also didn't know him). Us Olim (especially American/Anglo) need to stick together.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your loss, and please send my prayers and condolances to his family and friends. I am Jewish, I have lived in Israel, and recently my reserve unit was called up--not in the IDF, but in the U.S. Army. I am on my second deployment, my first to Iraq, and I have been here for a little over 5 months. I have likewise become accustomed to the rockets, mortars, and seeing our guys getting wounded, and some killed. So please kee uus in your prayers as well; most of the guys over here support what Israel is doing and are behind you. Take care, and be safe.
ReplyDeleteRafi, you're mamash a tzadik.
ReplyDeleteMay you only have to attend semahot in the future.
social - thank you. it was a very emotional funeral
ReplyDeleteyaakova - it was beautiful seeing all these people coming together to honor and pay respects to him..
Neil - it was. amen
meierg - write to me some mroe details (by email please). Michael Levin had made aliya a few years ago...
safranit - agreed. It is especially difficult for these chayalim bodedim because they do not have the support structure of a family. However, that being said, I saw plenty of native Israelis as well paying respects...
yaak - tzaddik is not the right word. Far from it. But thank you for your kind words. amen.
anonymous - thank you for your warm words. I hope you stay safe in Iraq and wherever else you might be posted. I, and I hope readers of this blog who see this post, will keep you in our prayers. Thank you for you support. Israel is usually used to being alone in the world with few supporters, so every extra supporter is meaningful to us. Especially when it comes from people who understand what we are going through.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your posting in Iraq and get home safely to your family.
And thank you for your contribution to protecting us and the rest of the free world.
rafi - this is real achdus! (btw - I am unfamiliar with the term chayal boded - what does this mean?
ReplyDeleteanon - If you want to e-mail me, my father in law started a "custom" we send "care" packages to jewish soldiers in Iraq. I would be honored if you gave a post to send you some kosher goodies. my e-mail is gldmeier@rcn.com. Or if you want to pass it along to other jewish soldiers/soldierettes. Also, Please give me your hebrew name (if you know it, if not your english will suffice) and we will keep you in our prayers.
we passed around in our shule the jewish names of active and injured soldiers to keep in our prayers. We'd like to include those in Iraq as well.
You did the right thing in attending...
ReplyDeletethanks you for being one of many that make me proud to be part of this nation.
shaya - chayal boded means a "lone soldier". The term is used in reference to soldiers who are here on their own with no immediate family (specifically parents) to provide a support system for them. They get the status of chayal boded and then there is an organization that provides for them a bit, but they still lack the basics any average Israeli has, just becasue they do not have their families here.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a nice program your father in law started. Kol Hakavod. I hope the anonymous soldier in Iraq sends you his name to be a part of the program...
dayli - thanks for stopping in and taking the time to comment.. I felt it was the least I could do considering the sacrifice he made for all of us..
ReplyDeleteThose are some great pictures, if you wouldn't mind e-mailing me them I'd really appreciate it. Mike was a friend from home but I was not able to fly to Israel for the funeral.
ReplyDeletetashmah@gmail.com
Thanks!
I would suggest the easiest way to get the pictures would be to go to baleboostahs blog site (abaleboostah.blogspot.com IIRC) and go to the pics of the funeral and click on each one and do a save picture. There were a bunch and I do not have them here with me at work, and I emailed them to baleboostah and she put them up on her site...
ReplyDeleteIf that does not work for you, let me know and I will email them later on...
I went to high school with Mike and although I never go to know him, his presence was always around. We all knew who Mike Levin was. Last night was his memorial service, in Newtown, Pennsylvania, USA. It was very emotional as 100's people showed up to pay their respects. As a fellow Jew myself I would like to give thanks to thoes Isralies, Rabbi's and friends of Mike who came to USA to show their respects last night.
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow member of the Jewish community I am so proud of him and what he faught for.
May he live on in our prayers and continue to insprire us for generations for a cause that us Jews are all fighting for.
God Bless.
-Nicole
Nicole - Amen. Thank you for coming in here and sharing that with us.
ReplyDeleteFrom everything that was said at the funeral about him, and from what I have read, he was very special.
cara - where did you know him from? and thanks for taking the time to come in, read, and comment.
ReplyDeletewell, his memory should live on among those who knew him forever, and the memory of his heroism and actions should live among those who did not merit knowing him...
ReplyDelete