The Military Yeshiva Academy of Israel 20 BNEI DAVID ELI TISHREI 5775 Bulletin | 2014 Rav Eli Sadan Commander Bnei David writes to the Bnei Col. Ofer Winter David graduates to his troops during Operation fighting in the war in advance of Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip their deployment undreds of Bnei David the command centers, speaking graduates who are with the officers either in person Hserving in the IDF or via field communicators. The land, navy and air forces are rabbis and students have visited participating in Operation the wounded in the hospitals Protective Edge, which is still and have participated in the under way as these lines are funerals of our fallen graduates being written. We have been (see the separate article). We in constant contact with our are continuing to stay in touch Warriors of Israel, An excerpt from a communiqué that Bnei David graduate Givati Brigade Commander alumni since the beginning of with the bereaved families and May Hashem be with you. this campaign. to support them in any way Col. Ofer Winter sent to his troops in advance of The Jewish people have been Rav Sadan sent a personal possible. After the shiva week their deployment in Operation Protective Edge. forced to plow the fields with letter of encouragement to the Rav Sadan and Rav Levinstein one hand and wield the sword Dear officers and soldiers, soldiers and we have included met with each family to offer with the other from the very day History has chosen us to be an abridged translation of this support and encouragement. we set foot in our homeland. the vanguard of the offensive letter for you. On the home front, Accounts of the heroism of our The Jewish state is the only against the brazen terrorist our students went to volunteer graduates have been published country in the world forced enemy who never ceases to in Ashkelon, one of the cities throughout this campaign, with to fight for its very existence insult, scorn and revile the with the highest number of the most widely publicized story unceasingly since its inception, G-d of the armies of Israel. rocket barrages. Our rabbis have being that of Lt. Eitan, who ran 66 years ago. We have prepared and readied been visiting the troops at the down a tunnel to try to rescue A cruel enemy has risen ourselves for this moment, assembly points, offering words Lt. Hadar Goldin, HY”D, who had against us to annihilate us. We and we undertake this mission of encouragement before the been kidnapped and dragged are confronting a rogue state, as emissaries, in complete soldiers enter combat, and during away. Eitan threw a grenade which uses its own women and humility, knowing that we are the fighting Rav Sadan visited children as human shields to risking our lives in order to further its persistent project of defend ourselves, our people destruction. This is an enemy and our homeland. that values death as much as I trust each and every one of we cherish life. This existential you to act in this spirit – the spirit attack prompts one to ask: of the warriors of Israel who What is the meaning of the lead their regiments into battle. establishment of the Jewish I raise my eyes to the heavens state in the Land of Israel? and call out together with you: מכינה ישיבתית לצה“ל ישיבה לבוגרי צבא | ישיבה גבוהה בני דוד עֵ לִ י The Military Yeshiva Academy of Israel Eli D.N. Ephraim 4482800, Israel • [email protected] • www.bneidavid.org Design & publication: Shilo • Barkats Beit-El • Translation & editing: Miryam Blum & David Siegal BNEI DAVID ELI BULLETIN | 1 arrived at these shores after the Rav Eli Sadan long and bitter exile. A mosaic of We, who follow the Torah of Jews of all persuasions, divided Moshe Rabbeinu and live our on essential and profound issues lives by the Written and Oral of cultural values, political Law, take it as axiomatic that ideals and national identity the State of Israel is the first – yet jointly committed to the flowering of our redemption. State of Israel. We know also that the promised Without question, times of road to redemption is hard and trial and tribulation await us. winding. Our sages spoke in We must prepare ourselves for Bnei David during Operation many places of wars and all crises and setbacks. Reality Protective Edge manner of afflictions, physical is complex, and the path and spiritual, that will befall us to redemption strewn with en route. These predictions are instability. But one thing is clear Saturday night after all the forces coming true before our very eyes. beyond any doubt: the eternal into the tunnel, on orders from withdrew from the Gaza Strip, Even though they knew the people of Israel have reemerged Givati Brigade Commander a special evening was held at difficulties that lay in store, in all their glory. We remain Col. Ofer Winter (a Bnei David Bnei David for all our alumni who untold generations of Jews undeterred by the long road that graduate, Class of 1989), and were involved in the fighting. have longed and prayed to live lies ahead. We stride forward, heroically chased the terrorists The soldiers-on-leave spoke with to see this day. Our generation proud of our mission, restoring for hundreds of yards inside the the rabbis about their combat has been given the privilege of the life of our nation! tunnel. Items that Eitan retrieved experiences, the dilemmas and being the ones to witness the May G-d give you, dear from the tunnel enabled the halachic questions that arose in beginning of our redemption. soldiers, the strength to carry IDF Rabbinate to conclude that the field and the many miracles We are now active partners with through and prevail. Of Yosef Hadar had been killed, and to they saw. G-d in bringing this process, it is written: “G-d gave him make arrangements for a funeral. We would like to thank all the the redemption of Israel, to its success in everything he did.” completion. We give thanks to (Bereishit 39:3). May that Him for granting us this historic blessing be yours! In the name opportunity. of all Israel, I say to you: “Go However, we do not stand in peace and return in peace.” alone. The miracle known as You are in my thoughts the State of Israel came into constantly. I pray for all of being and continues to flourish you. through the combined efforts Love, of vast numbers of Jews who Eli Sadan Givati Brigade Commander Col. rabbis and communities who Winter fought with his soldiers in sent us assistance and donations the Rafah region, in the southern for the soldiers, and our friends Gaza Strip. Excerpts from the who helped the Givati Brigade letter of encouragement he to hold a respite day full of fun sent to his soldiers are included for the wives and children of the with this newsletter. Many of officers. our graduates are among the We hope that this campaign reservists who were called up to will end soon and quiet will help the standing army. On the return to this region. ❚ and soldiers of our unit, I ask Col. Ofer Winter that what is written in the Torah “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our come true for us: “For it is G-d, the Lord is one.” Hashem, Hashem your God who is going the G-d of Israel: Please grant with you; He will fight for you our efforts success. We are against your enemies and He going out to battle for the sake will deliver you.” (Devarim 20:4) of your people Israel against an Amen! enemy who reviles your Name. United – the victory is ours. On behalf of all the troops of Col. Ofer Winter the IDF, and the commanders Commander, Givati Brigade 2 | BNEI DAVID ELI BULLETIN Lighter than eagles and stronger than lions Bnei David graduates who fell in Operation Protective Edge Lt. Hadar Goldin, z”l – Captain Class of 2010 Zvi Kaplan, z”l – Hadar Goldin and his twin brother Class of 2005 attended Bnei David for two years. Prior to his studies here he was a Bnei Captain Zvika Akiva youth movement counselor Kaplan was born and in the IDF he completed an officer and raised in the training course at the top of his class. Neve Sha’anan In an interview to Arutz 7 newspaper neighborhood of Haifa and attended Bnei David following high at the end of the officers course, Hadar said that he viewed his school. Zvi joined the IDF’s Golani elite reconnaissance forces IDF service as paramount in his life. “Everyone should realize the and served in a number of command positions, the last of which importance of dedication and giving. Not specifically in combat was company commander in charge of operations. He was killed service, but more as a state of mind, carrying a stretcher together, during Operation Protective Edge, on 22 Tamuz, 5774 (20 July, devotion to others, love for one’s people – with tremendous love, 2014) in a fierce battle in the Sajaiya neighborhood of Gaza City. a tremendous sense of mission and tremendous self-sacrifice. About a year ago Zvi completed his B.A. at Bar Ilan University, Lt. Hadar Goldin, commander of a Givati reconnaissance team, with excellence, in a program that combined his officer training was killed on 1 August, 2014, during combat in Rafah during and IDF service with academic studies. He was married and had Operation Protective Edge.