Muslim Israeli Veteran Meets Rabbi Yigal Cohen in Viral Moment Celebrating Unity

Ramon, a 27-year-old Muslim man from Sakhnin, recently met Rabbi Yigal Cohen in a heartfelt encounter that went viral after being posted on the Instagram account of C14, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. Ramon, who served as a tank driver in the Israeli army and was injured during his reserve duty, shared that his admiration for Rabbi Cohen began during his military service, where he often heard religious soldiers speak highly of the rabbi. He described Rabbi Cohen as a "golden person" whose words provided him strength during difficult times, quoting the rabbi's advice: "Don't pay attention to anything, every delay is for the better."

The meeting was a significant personal milestone for Ramon, who traveled two hours from Sakhnin to attend the rabbi's lesson. Despite being stopped by police on the way, Ramon explained his purpose and continued on, leaving the meeting feeling joyful and fulfilled. However, Ramon also faces criticism from some in his community, including accusations of betrayal and calls to return to his own religious leaders. He dismisses these remarks, emphasizing his commitment to being a good person and supporting the state of Israel.

Following the viral video, Ramon received a touching message from a young woman who he had helped years earlier, expressing how moved she was to see him with Rabbi Cohen and sharing her own connection to the rabbi's teachings. Ramon concluded with a message of peace and coexistence, urging people to look beyond religion and recognize their shared humanity, saying, "If something happens to someone on the road, I will get out of the car and help them."