Ever since our lives changed beyond recognition with the horrifying Hamas massacre on October 7 and the outbreak of Operation Swords of Gideon, our brave fighters have been brought to their final resting place on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem practically every day. One after another, the flowers of our hearts wilt on the Mount of Tears where our heroes are buried, after sacrificing their lives for us.
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In all my many years as a journalist, I have never experienced such an awful and heart-wrenching succession of funerals as I have been covering over the past two months on Mount Herzl. Almost every day I cover the funeral of yet another fallen soldier. The pain torments the soul. The voices of grief and weeping from the bereaved families are seared into my heart and shake my soul.
I was especially moved by that Sunday, November 12, when I attended four military funerals on that mountain of sorrow and valor. Thousands came to pay respects to the fallen, in gloomy and empowering silence, filling the paths leading to the graves. As if sharing the bereavement with the families, embracing them with warmth on behalf of the entire People of Israel.
Alongside the heart-piercing loss of the bereaved families, many of the eulogizers display immense and empowering nobility at the difficult moment in their lives. Grieving parents and siblings cry out for unity in a cracked voice over their loved ones' graves. They plead from the depths of their souls for the fighting to continue until the IDF defeats our enemies. They weep for their beloved who fell with unparalleled dedication defending our one and only state.
We are going through difficult days. One sorrow chases another. Too many coffins of our fighters, draped in the flag of Israel, are brought with honor to their final resting place. But on Mount Herzl it is clearly evident that faith in God and the righteousness of our path still beats strongly, providing hope and anticipation for better days ahead of tranquility and happiness in our land.
If only by virtue of our fallen fighters we will live securely in our country, with their memory in our hearts forever.
"The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace."
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