July 28, 2006, - 6:18 pm
Ro’i Klein, Z”L: Heroic Israeli Soldier Gave His Life to Save Others in Hezbollah’s Bint Jbeil
By
We saw this incredible story of Israeli heroism on the Hebrew video news part of Arutz Sheva/Israel National News and are summarizing the story, here, in English.
Ro’i (pronounced “Row-ee”) Klein is one of the many heroic Israeli soldiers who, unfortunately, are giving their lives to save the people of Israel from Hezbollah terrorists. Klein, a Major and Deputy Commander of the 51st Unit of the elite Golani Brigade, committed the ultimate act of heroism.
Sadly, Klein gave his life on Wednesday in Bint Jbeil, Lebanon–the Hezbollah stronghold near the country’s southern border. He jumped on a grenade to spare his fellow soldiers’ lives.
Klein was with several Israeli soldiers from his unit, trying to rescue their fellow soldier, Amichai Merchavyah. Merchavyah was seized by Hezbollah terrorists when his unit was in Bint Jbeil. Ro’i Klein and his fellow soldiers chased after the terrorists trying to rescue him. They soon found themselves cornered in a dead-end alley by Hezbollah terrorists who threw a grenade at them.
Ro’i Klein jumped on the grenade, using his body to spare the lives of his fellow soldiers. Also sadly, Amichai Merchavyah was not recovered. He, too, was murdered by Hezbollah terrorists.
What is significant–aside from their heroism in the face of Islamic terrorists–is that both Klein and Merchavyah are religious Jews from the Israeli settlement village of Eli, in the so-called “West Bank.” They gave their lives for so many Israelis who want them to give up their and their families homes to Palestinian terrorists and their supporters. Many of the Israeli soldiers fighting terrorists in Lebanon are the vilified settlers, whose homes are in dangers–even though they are on land owned by the Jewish tribe of Binyamin (Benjamin) for thousands of years.
Major Klein’s widow, Sarah, and their two young sons must now fight alone to keep her home, while her husband paid the ultimate price in the War on Terror. She is fighting a lawsuit by far-leftist Israeli group, Peace Now–the Israeli version of the and –which is trying to give her and her late husband’s home and land to Palestinians who never lived there. More details about that on the English version of Arutz Sheva/Israel National News.
Of Ro’i Klein’s tremendous heroism in trying to save his fellow soldiers, his Rabbi, HaRav Eliezer Kastiel said, “It was heroism not seen in our day.”
Yes, it was the ultimate act of heroism. Ro’i Klein and Amichai Merchavyah, Victims of Hezbollah Terrorism, Zichronam LiVrachah (Blessed Be Their Memories).
More pictures of Israeli soldiers who gave their lives in the War on Hezbollah Terror here.
Tags: Amichai Merchavyah, Bint Jbeil, Debbie Schlussel We, Deputy Commander, Eli, Eliezer Kastiel, Golani Brigade, Hezbollah stronghold, Hizballah, Israel, Lebanon, Major, Peace Now, Ro'i Klein, Sarah, West Bank
His wife Sarah lost her husband. She shouldn’t have to lose her home simply because she’s a Jew. God demands respect for the widow and the orphan. “Beware if you mistreat them and they cry out to and I will hear them and My anger will blaze forth against you…” and in view of the parable of Naboth’s vineyard – “shall the murderer inherit?” In a sane the world the answer to that question shouldn’t have to be asked. A hero’s family as well as the hero’s memory deserves to be repaid accordingly.
NormanF on July 28, 2006 at 11:23 pm