Orthodox Father and Son Serve Israel by Recovering Fallen Soldiers
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Orthodox father and son, Major (Res.) Yoni Berenfeld and Second Lieutenant (Res.) Yossi Berenfeld, serve together in the IDF's casualty affairs unit. Both left yeshiva studies to enlist, driven by a belief in serving the country. They have been involved in recovering bodies from the October 7th attacks and subsequent operations, including a rocket attack in their hometown of Beit Shemesh. Their service is rooted in family values, though it has faced some resistance within their Haredi community.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Orthodox father and son, Yoni and Yossi Berenfeld, serve in IDF casualty affairs unit.
- Both left yeshiva studies to enlist, citing a belief in serving the country.
- They have recovered bodies from the October 7th attacks and subsequent operations.
- The father, Yoni, is a deputy rabbi and logistics officer; the son, Yossi, is a second lieutenant.
- Their service has faced some resistance within their Haredi community.
- They are committed to their values and family legacy of service.
A father and son, both from the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, have chosen to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the difficult role of recovering and identifying fallen soldiers. Major (Res.) Yoni Berenfeld, 51, a father of six and grandfather of seven from Modi'in, left his yeshiva studies in 1999 to enlist. He served as a casualty identification officer and previously worked for ZAKA, an emergency response organization. Since October 7, he has served approximately 500 days in reserve duty, currently as a district deputy rabbi and logistics officer.
His son, Second Lieutenant (Res.) Yossi Berenfeld, 28, from Beit Shemesh, a married father of two, also left his yeshiva studies to enlist at age 24. He initially served as an ambulance driver with the MDA reinforcement unit before seeking a more meaningful role. Following his father's path, Yossi joined the same unit, Battalion 7475, responsible for casualty affairs.
Both father and son were involved in recovering bodies from the aftermath of the October 7th attacks and subsequent operations. Yoni's unit was tasked with searching kibbutzim in the Gaza envelope and dealing with bodies at the Shfayim camp and later at the Tze'elim field, where Hamas terrorists' bodies were held alongside potentially unidentified Israeli casualties. Yossi's unit was deployed to the Northern border and later responded to a rocket attack in Beit Shemesh, where his father was also present, recovering nine casualties.
"We were taught at home that after a Jew finishes his studies and enters the workforce, he must first serve the country. This is the education our family believes in," Yoni stated. Yossi added, "I spoke with my father to help me get to a place with meaning and understanding, to serve according to the values I was raised on." The family's choice to enlist has not been universally accepted in their Haredi community, with Yossi noting that some in Beit Shemesh reacted with surprise. However, he remains committed to his values and the legacy of service.
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