IDF Soldiers Read Memorial Torah Scroll at Bofor Fortress in Lebanon

More than 40 years after the fierce battle at Bofor in June 1982, a Torah scroll dedicated to the memory of 14 fallen Israeli soldiers was brought from the Israeli settlement of Hoshaya to the heart of the Bofor fortress in Lebanon. This event symbolized a generational closure, connecting the veterans who fought in the battle with the current young Golani Brigade soldiers who read from the scroll at the historic site.

The initiative was led by Menachem Goldberg, a resident of Hoshaya who personally knew all 14 soldiers commemorated in the scroll. The Torah was originally written about six years ago to honor his comrades and commanders from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The idea to bring the scroll to Bofor came from Goldberg's son, who also served in the same unit. After receiving approval from the military rabbinate, the scroll was transported across the border into Lebanon and read on the fortress summit, where the soldiers had shed their blood decades earlier.

Goldberg described the emotional scene of young 20-year-old Golani soldiers respectfully listening to the battle stories and the names inscribed on the scroll's mantle. He emphasized the significance of this connection across generations and the enduring message of unity among Israelis despite political and social divisions. Goldberg recalled the fallen soldiers' legacy as a call to "overcome disputes with love and togetherness," highlighting that all Israelis fight side by side regardless of background.

Returning to Hoshaya, the Torah scroll carried with it the dust of Lebanon, symbolizing the closing of a long-awaited circle. Goldberg expressed the deep personal and national importance of commemorating the 14 soldiers, describing it as both a great honor and a profound sorrow. The scroll now rests again in the community's ark, continuing to inspire remembrance and unity among Israelis.