Vampire Weekend's Surprising Jewish Stories
5 min read
Colonel Roi Levy and Aharon Haimov were killed while trying to save the lives of others.
The loss of a single human life is equated to the destruction of an entire world. With more than 700 Israelis killed, it is impossible to do justice to the lives that have been lost and worlds that have been destroyed. At the very least, let us honor the memories of those who fell in their attempt to save lives and do our best to create a world based upon their example.
In Judaism, one who passed away “for the sake of heaven” is considered to be a hero. Tragically, Jewish history is full of such examples of heroes from the Crusades to the Holocaust and more recent battles in Israeli history. Tragically, here are the stories of just two of brave Israeli heroes. May their memory be for a blessing.
IDF Colonel Roi Levy was born in America and raised in Jerusalem. He quickly climbed the ranks of the Israeli Defense Forces where he led several elite units such as the 1st Golani Brigade and the ‘Egoz’ unit that specializes in guerilla warfare. Seriously wounded in the 2013 Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, Roi initially refused to leave the battlefield and have his injuries treated. He would not leave his brothers, under his command, without their leader.
Eventually, Roi took a temporary break from combat and earned a master’s degree in law at Bar-Ilan University. With his outstanding capabilities and bravery, he was unable to stay away from protecting his nation for long after rehabilitating from his injury and managed to return to the IDF three years later.
“I will be the first to enter Gaza for the next war and not to settle the score. There is an enemy there that hides behind children. With my own eyes I saw how a Hamas terrorist tried to fire an RPG on our tank, but feared to enter the field of destruction that we were pointed towards, so he did it while holding a young child who reached only his chest. In another instance, Hamas terrorists fired a Kasam rocket from an area with hundreds of children… we did not fire towards them,” Roi told the Israeli newspaper Ynet at that time.
In 2018, Roi was specially chosen by IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot to light the IDF torch on Israel’s 70th Independence Day and his unit also received the Chief of Staff’s Prize for Excellence.
Roi lighting the torch on Israel’s 70th Independence Day
When Hamas terrorists penetrated the Gaza border and began a mass killing spree of Israeli civilians in nearby villages, Roi led a group of fighters to recapture the Israeli towns. The worst of Saturday’s violence occurred in the area of Kibbutz Re’im when several hundred young Israelis were ambushed, kidnapped and executed attending a nature festival. Roi fell in combat in what is now known as the ‘battle of Re’im.’
A childhood friend of Roi’s, Saryah Lotan, offered these words of eulogy: “I was not surprised to hear what he did. The moment I read and heard from friends that he entered the front lines to enter and save who were still alive in Kibbutz Reim. He was a leader in every fiber of his being. He was always a leader… His soldiers admired him. He was my best friend but many people could say this, because he gave this feeling to everyone without diminishing from the others. He was a rare person --- they say the best of us are taken and this is true. He was a hero, the best person that I ever met.”
Roi is survived by his wife Yael and their five children in the community of Shavei Tziyon.
Aharon Haimov (Courtesy of MDA)
Early in the morning of October 7, Aharon responded to distress calls from the nearby Gaza area from his home in Ofakim and quickly reported to duty as a civilian driver for Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service. On his way to treat the wounded, he was murdered by gunfire by Hamas terrorists.
Eli Bin, the Director General of Magen David Adom said in a eulogy for Aharon: “For every complex security event, volunteers and staff of Magen David Adom are found on site in order to provide professional first aid to the wounded. Aharon was a ‘salt of the earth’ kind of person, and an outstanding example of the staff and volunteers of Magen David Adom. Aharon, a person for whom the well-being of others and the value of human life were always before him including today, on this tragic morning. The passing of Aharon leaves us in great pain and honoring his path. The volunteers and staff of Magen David Adom salute Aharon and hug his family - an inseparable part of the Magen David Adom family. May his memory be for a blessing.”
Aharon is survived by his wife, two children, family members and friends.
The citizens of Israel who died on October 7 were not executed, they were murdered. Many females were raped after being forced to phone their mothers, so their mothers would have to listen to their cries of anguish as they were violated by these revolting monsters.
Very few politicians around the world have called out this evil behaviour by Hamas.
Shame on those who refuse to call out this evil. All persons have a right to live in peace; no matter the colour of their skin, or which faith they follow.
Years ago, I wanted to donate a myriad of bullet proof vests to the IDF. My offer was not accepted unless I purchased ones made in Israel (which were a MUCH MORE expensive than those made in the USA). I did not and they would not follow up. Just imagine all the lives that could have been saved