Yona Brief’s Heroic 417-Day Battle

On the morning of October 7, 2023, elite Duvdevan commandoes entered Kibbutz Kfar Aza to confront hundreds of Hamas terrorists. The six-man team, including 23-year-old combat medic Yona Brief, valiantly went house to house, eliminating terrorists and rescuing civilians.

Suddenly, they were ambushed by a hail of Hamas gunfire. Yona saw his close friend, Amir Fisher hy”d, shot dead.

Then Ben Burstein hy”d, Yona’s commanding officer, yelled out that he’d been hit.

Fully aware of the immense danger, Yona ran into the line of fire to rescue Ben. As he reached him, Yona felt bullets piercing his body. Gravely wounded, Yona managed to crawl to safety.

Yona (L) with his close friend Amir Fisher hy”d

While awaiting evacuation, Yona remained focused, calm and clear-headed. Another medic arrived and Yona resourcefully guided him how to care for the wounds. Amidst the chaos of October 7, only hours later Yona was evacuated by helicopter to Sheba Hospital.

His next major battle had begun: the fight for life.

Constant Vigil

Thirteen bullets had ravaged Yona’s body, causing enormous shock, stress and multiple injuries. Internal organs failed. Both legs had to be amputated. Yona endured days, weeks and months of excruciating pain, multiple surgeries, and massive infusions of antibiotics to counter the life-threatening infections.

Yet while Yona’s body was broken, his spirit remained strong. Having fought like a lion on the battlefield, he brought that same ferocity to the ICU.

Obstacles and complications appeared at every turn. Progress was arduous and incremental. Even lifting a finger was a victory.

For months, Yona endured a roller-coaster ride, a cycle of ups and downs. Dozens of times, his condition deteriorated to the point where doctors told the family to come say their final goodbyes.

Yet time after time, Yona heroically pushed through the barriers and survived – emerging stronger, ready to fight the next battle.

Yona is visited by IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi

Yona never gave up and never despaired. His extraordinary optimism, determination, passion and charm inspired the entire nation. Doctors called Yona the indestructible Superman who transcended nature and had “a blank check in Heaven.”

Israeli Hero

When Yona first awakened after a month in ICU, his immediate request was for tefillin. Every day, despite the many wires, machines, tubes and bandages, Yona wore tefillin, even teaching his mother how to wrap the leather straps when his father wasn't around.

In his daily prayers, Yona felt especially connected to the Amidah blessing for “resurrection of the dead” -- feeling that his precarious recovery was like “rising from the dead.”

In the ICU, Yona tried to lead as normal life as possible. To ease the suffering and pain, he’d sing and dance in bed, or enjoy a pizza party with friends – dozens who described Yona as their “best friend.”

Visitors from across the spectrum – Knesset members, celebrities and religious leaders – all came to encourage Yona. U.S. Congressman Brian Mast, who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan, visited the ICU and offered strong words of encouragement.

Invariably, visitors left deeply inspired.

Yona and his sister

Dr. Mitchell Schwaber, a close family friend, said that Yona taught a profound lesson: “To never underestimate the human ability to conquer even overwhelming medical odds, by sheer strength of body and of spirit.”

When friends told Yona he was a national hero, he shrugged it off, saying, “I didn't do anything except lay here in bed.”

Lifelong Dream

In 1994, Yona’s parents made aliyah from Palo Alto, CA, fulfilling a dream of settling the land and raising a family steeped in Jewish values.

Yona and his parents, Hazel and David

Yona, the youngest of six siblings, longed to become a Duvdevan commando. Prior to army service, to prepare spiritually he studied for 18 months at the Maaleh Ephraim yeshiva. He proved to be a brave and dedicated fighter.

Five months prior to October 7, during a military operation in Samaria, Yona was seriously injured by an explosive device. He persevered through rehabilitation and regained peak physical condition. When offered a medical discharge, Yona refused and insisted on rejoining his unit. It was important for Yona to serve and complete the 3-year army service, as an obligation to the Jewish people and as a citizen of Israel.

After being critically wounded on October 7, Yona’s was supported by his exceptionally devoted family, who maintained a constant vigil at his hospital bedside.

In January, Yona’s sister gave birth to a boy and held the bris ceremony at the hospital so Yona could attend. The baby’s name, Liam, is an acronym from Isaiah 2:4 – לא ילמדו עוד מלחמה – a prayer for no more war.

The Brief family holds a Brit Milah at Yona’s bedside

Heart-Wrenching Goodbye

After nearly 14 months in ICU, Yona suffered another setback, as infections raged and his body temperature reached a lethal level. Yet after having miraculously survived so many times against all odds, Yona’s family never doubted that he’d win the battle again.

Yet Yona’s weakened body could fight no more. 417 days after being injured, at 6:29 a.m. (the same time the terror onslaught began on October 7), Sergeant First Class Yona Betzalel Brief succumbed to his wounds.

His death was shocking precisely because he’d survived for so long.

Yona, symbol of bravery and sacrifice, had died sanctifying God’s Name, protecting the Jewish people in the land of Israel.

As a national hero, his funeral at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem was attended by dignitaries and thousands of mourners.

Yona’s mother Hazel spoke about how Yona was “all in” for the Jewish people, and the Jewish people were all in for Yona. Over those 14 months, many people began lighting Shabbat candles and thousands of chapters of Psalms were recited in Yona’s merit. Others baked challah with the special prayer.

His ICU room was filled with messages of hope, faith and love Everyone wanted Yona to win this battle. In the words of Professor Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, Director of Sheba Hospital: "Yona was a true hero, one of those you read about in history books.”

Yona pursued his entire life with passion, purpose and joy. For those 417 days, Yona taught the nation the meaning of “choose life.”

Yona's yeshiva study partner (chavruta) Nati Eitan hy”d, is also buried on Mount Herzl, not far from Yona. In Heaven, the are continuing to learn together.

May the memory of Yona Betzalel ben David Chaim v’Chava Shoshana hy"d be for an eternal blessing.