Yosef Haguel, Inspiration for ‘Ballad for a Medic’ Song, Dies at 80

Yosef Haguel, the fighter whose injury during the Battle for Jerusalem became famously linked to the song "Ballad for a Medic," symbolizing camaraderie and sacrifice in the IDF, passed away on Sunday at the age of 80. Haguel is remembered not only as a soldier who fought in the liberation of Jerusalem but primarily as someone who narrowly escaped certain death due to the extraordinary bravery of a fellow soldier. This event profoundly shaped his life.

Haguel's story unfolded during the Six-Day War in 1967. While fighting with the 55th Paratrooper Brigade in the difficult battles near the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, he sustained severe injuries to both legs from a mortar shell. The company medic, Shlomo Epstein, immediately recognized the severity of Haguel's wounds and rushed to his aid under heavy fire. When another shell landed nearby, Epstein shielded Haguel with his own body, absorbing the full impact of the blast. Epstein was killed instantly, saving Haguel's life. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Courage for his heroism.

Although the song "Ballad for a Medic" was written by Dan Almagor in 1956, over a decade before the war, the events in Jerusalem bore a striking resemblance to the song's narrative. The song, which tells of a medic sacrificing his life for a wounded soldier, and Epstein's actions created a powerful connection. When Yehoram Gaon performed the song in 1969, winning the Song Festival, it became cemented in the public consciousness as the soundtrack to Haguel's rescue, with many believing it was written specifically about this battle.

Throughout the years, Haguel maintained a close and moving relationship with Epstein's family and worked to preserve his memory. Symbolically, Haguel named his son Shlomo, after the medic who saved him, and Epstein's father served as the sandak (godfather) at the circumcision. Haguel's spirit of volunteering continued into his later years. In October 2023, at age 77, he rejoined the IDF reserves during the Swords of Iron War to boost the morale of soldiers.