Israeli Soldier Sivan Weil's Memory Honored With Wine Project
More than two years after his death in combat, the family of Sivan Weil is continuing initiatives to preserve his memory. Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, his father, Julien Weil, presented a special wine produced in his son's honor on i24NEWS. Sivan Weil, born in Israel to parents who made aliyah in 1998, was dedicated to becoming a combat soldier from a young age. He completed training with the elite Egoz commando unit of the IDF in 2023.
On October 7, 2023, Weil was deployed to Kissoufim to defend residents during the Hamas attacks. He continued his military service until March 31, 2024, when he was killed by Hamas fire. The family chose to use wine to connect Sivan's memory with the land of Israel.
Vines were planted in the village of Gilon in his honor and that of another soldier killed in the same attack. The wine produced from these vineyards is sold throughout Israel, including in Raanana, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. All profits from the wine sales fund ski trips for soldiers wounded in combat, a sport Sivan was passionate about.
"We connect his passion for skiing with helping his wounded friends," explained his father. These trips, some organized in France, aim to aid the soldiers' physical and psychological recovery, with some participants experiencing snow and skiing for the first time. The Rosh Hashanah wine bottles sold out, and new batches will be released every six months, including before Passover. The family is seeking a distributor in France.
Julien Weil also mentioned that the wine is served at the official residence of the Israeli president. Beyond the wine project, a foundation established in Sivan Weil's memory supports wounded Israeli soldiers and shares the young fighter's story.
