Rav Eliyahu Mirav shlit"a Eulogizes His Son, the Soldier Yossi Cohen hy"d

On Wednesday of Parshat Vayigash, the soldier Yossi Cohen was killed for the sanctification of Hashem, when a murderous terrorist opened fire on him and his friend, Yuval Mor Yosef. At the time, the two were on a security mission at the hitchhiking post at Givat Asaf as part of their service in the "Netzach Yehuda" battalion, may their blood be avenged. Rabbi Eliyahu Merav shlit"a, a student of the holy Rav Berland and father of the fallen soldier Yossi Cohen, may his blood be avenged, spoke to the general media with a moving message to the people of Israel.

"Yossi, the pure soul, was on a mission; we sent him with great love. At every Shabbat meal, we sit as a family and everyone expresses gratitude for something. Yossi expressed it with these words: 'I thank Hashem that I have the merit to protect the people of Israel with my own body.' That is the soul he had; he didn't know what he was talking about, but those were his last words at home. Now, we all understand what he was talking about."

"Yossi, the pure soul, a child of self-sacrifice, a child who only wanted to help since he was small, and Hashem took him. We need a lot of strengthening," Rabbi Merav reiterated. "We were proud of Yossi and he was proud of us. We sent him with love out of a deep sense of mission, because we believe that the people of Israel are one. We believe that we are all together; each one in his place must help and give. This is what we grew up on. I grew up in Kibbutz Beit Alfa of the Hashomer Hatzair, and these are eternal values of love for humanity, love for all creatures. No politics will move the values of the eternal Jewish spirit. It is a pity that bereavement is what connects us; perhaps one day we will merit that love will connect us."

"It is true that I served in the IDF and returned to teshuvah (repentance) after the Yom Kippur War," Rabbi Merav answers the interviewer's question. "I have been Charedi for 45 years, but I am Israeli; I am a product of the crisis in secular Israeli society. I am sorry that there are children whose families do not accept them after they enlist. I understand that everyone must live according to their faith and values, but respect must be maintained; mutual respect must be maintained. We must put an end to this hatred; it is impossible to build a home and a country in this way."

"Yossi was a Charedi Israeli boy, a heart of gold, a glory to the people of Israel. He wanted to finish the army and continue to give to the people of Israel as a dentist. Now he is above, watching over us."