Chilling Photo Shows Fallen Soldier Praying Days Before Death

A photograph taken three years ago by Chaim Goldberg, capturing David Meir praying on the Mount of Olives during the Hoshanah Rabbah service, has gained a chilling significance in retrospect. Meir, then 31, a fighter in the Sayeret Matkal unit, was killed in battle at Kibbutz Be'eri just one day later, on Simchat Torah, October 7, 2023, during the Hamas attack. The prayer service took place at a viewpoint on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple Mount, organized by the "Avia" foundation. Meir, originally from Jerusalem, was the youngest of seven children and had served in Sayeret Matkal since 2011. He was married to Anat Haya, with whom he had a son named Shaked. His family described him as a devoted family man who loved sports, travel, music, and Israeli songs, deeply connected to his family, people, and country. They also recalled him as a humble and sensitive individual who exuded confidence and naturally helped others. In his final moments, as a wounded comrade lay beside him, Meir asked him to relay a message to his wife: "Tell Anat I love her, and our son, and I am sorry." David Meir was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was buried in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl, leaving behind his wife, son, parents, and six siblings. The photograph now serves as a poignant reminder of a seemingly ordinary moment, Meir standing in prayer, just 24 hours before his final battle.