Torah Scroll Dedicated in Samaria to Fallen Soldier Eitan Ben Yitzhak

A Torah scroll was dedicated in the new Israeli settlement of Rehavam in the Samaria region, in memory of Second Lieutenant Eitan Ben Yitzhak, a fallen soldier from the Egoz unit and an officer cadet. Ben Yitzhak was killed in battle in Rafah on September 18 during Operation "Swords of Iron." The ceremony was attended by Yossi Dagan, Head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yael and Palmach Ze'evi, the son of the late Minister Rehavam Ze'evi, Eitan's parents Nachshon and Michal Ben Yitzhak, Eitan's widow Atara, his friends from the Egoz unit, rabbis, and residents of Rehavam.

Yael and Palmach Ze'evi donated the Torah scroll in memory of their son Eitan, who resided in the settlement of Har Bracha. The scroll was originally intended for Eitan's merit. It was decided that the scroll would be placed in the young settlement of Rehavam, established this year and named after Yael Ze'evi's father, Minister Rehavam Ze'evi, who was assassinated in a terrorist attack in Jerusalem. The settlement is located on the Trans-Samaria Highway, north of Migdalim, connecting the Samaria and Jordan Valley settlement blocs.

Michal Ben Yitzhak, Eitan's mother, spoke at the event, stating, "This morning we woke up and chose to dress nicely. We left the memorial shirts in the closet and put on holiday clothes, choosing life again." She added that the houses being built in Rehavam and "Farm Eitan" are the "glorious garments of the land."

Yael Ze'evi explained that the Torah scroll was written over years for her son's success during his military service. She asked the scribe not to finish it until her son returned safely. After its completion, she sought a permanent home for it, leading to the connection with Eitan's family and Yossi Dagan, which resulted in the scroll being placed in Rehavam. "To conquer this land, one must hold the Torah in one hand and a sword in the other," Yael Ze'evi stated, emphasizing that Eitan embodied this principle. She thanked Yossi Dagan, noting his long-standing dedication to the land, which began when he was a protégé of Rehavam Ze'evi.

Yossi Dagan expressed gratitude to the Ze'evi family for the donation, calling it a double honor. He stated that the souls of Eitan Ben Yitzhak and Rehavam Ze'evi are present in the holy place in the heart of Samaria. Dagan announced plans to build a permanent synagogue in Rehavam within the coming months, which will serve as a center for Torah study and the continued development of the settlement, following the path of these two heroes.