Memorial Held for Colonel Yonatan Steinberg Three Years After His Death

A memorial ceremony is being held at Mount Herzl to mark three years since the death of Colonel Yonatan (Yoni) Steinberg, commander of the Nahal Brigade. Steinberg fell in battle against terrorists on his way to his soldiers in Kerem Shalom on Simchat Torah.

His family, friends, and admirers are gathering at Mount Herzl for the commemoration. A subsequent memorial event will take place at the Yehuda Hotel in Jerusalem. Steinberg, who was the commander of the Nahal Brigade, was killed in combat with terrorists while en route to his troops. He is survived by his wife Yiska, their six children, his parents Daniel and Judith, and his siblings.

Born in Jerusalem, Steinberg was the second of five siblings. He grew up in Givat Ze'ev, studied at the Horav Yeshiva High School in Jerusalem, and was active in the Bnei Akiva youth movement in the settlement. He also founded and volunteered with Magen David Adom's youth program in Givat Ze'ev. After high school, he studied for two years at the Ma'ale Eliyahu Yeshiva in Tel Aviv.

He enlisted in the Nahal Brigade in 2000 and held various command positions within the IDF, including head of the Ground Forces commander's office, commander of the 931st Battalion, operations officer in the 162nd Division, commander of the Benjamin Brigade, and commander of the Center for Tactical Training. He eventually returned to command the Nahal Brigade.

On the morning of Simchat Torah 5784 (2023), as the terrorist attack began, Steinberg set out to reach his soldiers in Kerem Shalom. He encountered terrorists en route and fell in the ensuing battle. His family remembers him as a person of faith, humility, courage, and devotion, who lived according to Torah and loved the people and the land.