After Five Months: IDF Recognizes Schneur Zalman Cohen, HY”D As “Killed in Battle”
The IDF announced on Friday that it has decided to recognize Schneur Zalman Cohen, HY”D, a Lubavitch soldier who was killed in Gaza, as having fallen in battle. Following the recognition, the number of IDF casualties since the beginning of the war rose to 847, Hashem yikom damam • Full Story
By Chabadinfo Reporter
The IDF announced on Friday that it has decided to recognize Schneur Zalman Cohen, HY”D, a Lubavitch soldier who was killed in Gaza, as having fallen in battle.
Schneur, who fought in Gaza for the safety of Klal Yisroel, was killed Al Kiddush Hashem, following a grenade explosion in northern Gaza. Following the recognition, the number of IDF casualties since the beginning of the war rose to 847, Hashem yikom damam.
Schneur was stationed in the Chreidi “Tomer” division of the Givani Brigade and was on guard at the time of the attack. Initially, following an investigation by military police, it decided not to include his name on the list of those fallen in battle.
After the decision, outrage ensued from his family and friends, who demanded that he be recognized as a war hero — noting that a few days before the event, a defective grenade was discovered in the company that had been detonated in a controlled manner.
Chabad reporter R’ Mendi Rizel revealed that soldiers, who served with him, testified that when they received the grenades about two weeks earlier, a defective grenade was discovered that had been destroyed in a controlled manner, and that he may have been killed as a result of an explosion from a weapon that was also defective, on the vest he was wearing.
Finally, after five months, the IDF decided to recognize him as a war casualty. R’ Rizel said, “Schneur Zalman Cohen was finally recognized as an IDF casualty. I am happy that I was able to help the family.”
During an interview with Israeli TV, shortly before he was killed, he stated, “Chareidi or not, [it doesn’t matter]—I’m a Chabad’nik! [And] I’m here on the Rebbe’s Shlichus.”
After his death, his parents published a letter they wrote to their son Shneur Zalman:
“You adhered to a high level of Kashrus, you did not give up your tzitzis because your company friends saw you as an example. Along with striving for professionalism and operational competence, even as a rookie, your friends called you ‘officer.’
“As a family, we are proud of you for the goals you set, and the goals you achieved. You gave us an example of what you meant when you said, ‘Chareidi or not, [it doesn’t matter]—I’m a Chabad’nik! [And] I’m here on the Rebbe’s Shlichus.’ And now we are sure that you have gone to work on the final operation to bring the Moshiach!”.
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