Residents of Givat Binyamin, also known as Adam, gathered on Sunday to show support and grief as they accompanied the Chabashush family from their home to the funeral of their son, Staff Sgt. Nove Chabashush. The mourners walked with Israeli flags in a public display of solidarity for the family of the 20-year-old soldier.
Chabashush served as a tank commander in Battalion 52 of the 401st Armored Brigade. He was killed overnight Thursday to Friday during operational activity in southern Lebanon, when the tank he was in struck an explosive device. Another soldier, Dor Ben Shimhon, was killed in the same incident, and four additional soldiers were wounded.
Born and raised in Adam, Chabashush studied in the town’s schools and later attended the Beit Yatir pre-military academy. He had recently completed a tank commanders’ course, viewed his military service as a mission, and planned to continue to officers’ training. He was the third fallen resident of Givat Binyamin since the war began.
His father, Haim Chabashush, who serves as deputy commander of the Yiftach Reserve Brigade (11), said Nove was beloved, modest, and always ready to help. Haim said that at 11 p.m. on Thursday Nove messaged him that he might come home on Sunday, and asked him not to tell his mother, Einav, so she would not be disappointed if it did not work out. Just 75 minutes later, the tank was hit.
The family is closely tied to the Binyamin Regional Council workforce: Einav heads the special education department in the education division, and sister Noam works in the security center. Nove leaves behind his parents and two sisters, Noam and Nesia. Regional Council head Israel Ganz said, “The heart of all of us is broken,” and described him as a bright, responsible, humble young man who chose to stand on the front line and defend Israel.
