GAZA, Israel — As Israeli Defense Forces began the long anticipated ground operation to end rocket fire into the Southern communities, its soldiers are penetrating Gaza's dangerous interior and Chabad representatives are intensifying their own support efforts both for the soldiers and Israel's southern residents.
IDF sources confirmed one fatality, St. - Sgt.Dvir Emmanuel, 22, of Givat Zeev. Emmanuel died of wounds sustained in a mortar shell attack near Jabalya in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
As Gaza Ground War Intensifies, Chabad Representatives Step Up Support Activities
GAZA, Israel — As Israeli Defense Forces began the long anticipated ground operation to end rocket fire into the Southern communities, its soldiers are penetrating Gaza’s dangerous interior and Chabad representatives are intensifying their own support efforts both for the soldiers and Israel’s southern residents.
IDF sources confirmed one fatality, St. – Sgt.Dvir Emmanuel, 22, of Givat Zeev. Emmanuel died of wounds sustained in a mortar shell attack near Jabalya in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
Chabad’s representatives in Givat Ze’ev, Rabbi Chaim and Ayelet Bachar received the news of Dvir’s death with shock. They knew him personally, as Dvir was a student of Rabbi Bachar’s in elementary school. “He was an outstanding student,” says Rabbi Bachar. Emmanuel will be buried Sunday night at Mt. Herzel.
WITH THE IDF
IDF reports that 30 soldiers were injured, including three seriously, during Sunday’s actions. Twenty one Israeli soldiers were hospitalized in Siroka Hospital in Beer’sheva and Tel Hashomer outside Tel Aviv. Chabad’s Terror Victims Project’s Rabbi Menachem Kutner was joined by Rabbi Zalman Gorelik of Beer Sheva and Rabbi Levi Gopin of Tel Hashomer, making the rounds among the soldiers, providing services to family members, and offering support. Rabbi Kutner emailed the names of the wounded soldiers to Chabad representatives worldwide, who are leading prayers in their communities for their speedy recovery.
“The soldiers are recovering and in good spirits,” said Rabbi Kutner after his visit to Siroka. “We helped them and their family members with whatever immediate needs they had.“ Kutner also said he and the other Chabad representatives ”let them know how appreciated they are,” at this critical time. Indeed, the strike against Hamas has widespread popular support in Israel, after frustrations at the mounting rocket attacks on its civilian population by Hamas.
