IDF Sergeant Yehuda Katz Laid to Rest After 44 Years Following Lebanon War

The funeral procession of Sergeant Yehuda Yekutiel Katz, the last missing soldier from the Battle of Sultan Yaakov during the First Lebanon War, took place this morning. Katz's remains were returned to Israel after 44 years, and the ceremony began at Kerem B'Yavneh Yeshiva, where he studied before going to war. Rabbis, students, alumni, and friends gathered to bid him a final farewell before his burial at Jerusalem's Mount of Olives.

Rabbi Gabriel Sarf, head of Kerem B'Yavneh, emphasized the significance of the funeral starting at the yeshiva, stating that Katz was returning to say, "I have fulfilled your mission." He described Katz as having developed his spiritual and Torah personality there before departing on a great mission for the people of Israel. Rabbi Baruch Wider, head of the Kotel Yeshiva, recalled Katz's last moments before deployment, noting Katz's insistence that "one does not go to war from the bathroom but from the study hall." Wider also described Katz as a gentle soul, radiating Torah and inner beauty, and linked him to generations of scholars who fought for Israel.

Rabbi Aharon Friedman, head of Kerem B'Yavneh, shared stories of Katz's dedication, including studying under a blanket with a small Talmud and flashlight during basic training and honoring the yeshiva head by wearing a formal uniform. After Katz's remains were returned, Friedman found writings by Katz reflecting on the fallen soldiers and the call for personal change inspired by their sacrifice.

Rabbi David Turgeman, head of the Hesder Yeshiva in Dimona, recounted a shared military memory where Katz cited the Talmud to justify running to prayer, illustrating his deep Torah knowledge even during service. Former Kerem B'Yavneh president Rabbi Mordechai Greenberg praised Katz as a great Torah scholar whose presence influenced those around him, noting that even secular soldiers sought his spiritual guidance, and commanders felt reassured by his presence in battle.

Katz's funeral marks the closing of a long chapter of remembrance and prayer for his return, honoring his legacy as a scholar, soldier, and symbol of dedication to Israel.