"When you left on Simchat Torah, you told me to be strong": Major Harel Birnstock laid to rest at Mount Herzl

Major Harel Birnstock, who fell on Wednesday in battle in southern Lebanon, was laid to rest at Mount Herzl.

Elia, Harel's wife, delivered a eulogy: "My Harel, when you left on Simchat Torah, after you packed a few pairs of underwear, you hugged me and said: 'Be strong.' Since then, I have been trying to take on this role - to be strong for the children, to be the commander's wife. But this time I cannot be strong, I have no strength."

"I promise you that the children will grow up in a happy home, one of dancing and fun, a home where they listen to Eden Ben Zaken, just as you like. I will tell Ziv how much you loved him - even when he is at an age where it is hard to show it, you said he was 'one of our most successful ones.' Maayan, who only dreams of being in the paratroopers like dad and like you, runs outside every time he hears a helicopter. Omri and Gefen, our eldest, whom I so enjoyed seeing you with on bike trips and dives - I promise you that I will be strong for them."

"And from you, I ask that you remember Harel with the smile of a star, with whom everyone is immediately friends. In our family, we used to say about Harel that he loved to 'fly on himself' (boast) - and he absolutely had something to fly about."

"Mom, if you have to die, then like this"

Major Birnstock's mother delivered a eulogy for him: "Woe to us, my son, my firstborn, my beautiful son whom I love so much. I do not believe that this really happened to us, I will never understand how you were taken from us. Just on Thursday, we drove together north to grandma and grandpa. You took a turn in the garden, we laughed, I hugged you, and you left. You showed me a picture of the destroyed village, and I thought there was no danger. The fear that soldiers would come to my door I already experienced during Operation Protective Edge - and now they have arrived. You built an amazing family with Elia. You once told me: 'Mom, in the end, everyone dies, and if you have to die - then like this.' How do you say goodbye to a child? I will not see, smell, or hug you anymore. We will live a strong life and will not show these scum any weakness, but now I want to cry. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord - the people of Israel live!"

Major Harel Birnstock was killed by the explosion of a booby-trapped building in the village of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon, while a reserve force from the 55th Brigade was securing engineering works in the area. In the incident, the company's combat medic, Sergeant Major (res.) Tamir Vaknin, was also killed, and four other fighters were seriously wounded and evacuated to Rambam Hospital. The Northern Command has opened an in-depth investigation to examine the manner in which the force entered the building and the intelligence information about the area.

Before the funeral, his friend Michael Tomer delivered a eulogy: "Harel was not a man of many words, but a man of action. Fewer heart-to-heart talks and more work. He was an amazing father and an amazing partner. At every station in his life, he did his maximum, and for every goal he set before his eyes, he strove with determination. That is how he was in the army too - a professional, a commander who knew his soldiers, exactly the commander you would want to have."