Remembering a Hero in Manali

This week marked three years since Commander Roei Klein, with the cry of “Shemah Yisroel,” saved his fellow soldiers by leaping on a live grenade, his body taking most of the blast.

Seven other courageous soldiers from the Golani Brigade 51 died on that tragic day defending the people and land of Israel.

This week, on the third yahrtzeit, one of the surviving soldiers of that ill-fated brigade met Rabbis Levi Pekar and Yehudah Kirsh, who are traveling on Merkos Shlichus in Manali, India. He asked the bochurim to arrange a commemoration for his deceased friends.

A group of recently-released Israeli soldiers packed into the local Chabad House for a touching ceremony.

The soldiers all donned Tefillen (some for the first time) and prayed for the fallen heroes. They also recited a short prayer for the immediate and safe return of Gilad Shalit.

The service ended with L’chaim and a joyous dance of ‘Am Yisroel Chai.’