Memorial Event to Focus on New Immigrant Soldiers who Fell in Recent Gaza Operation

The late Max Steinberg, Jordan Ben Simon and Sean Carmeli, new immigrants who fell in the line of duty during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza last summer, occupy the center stage at Israel’s main national memorial event, “Remembering Through Song,” held annually at the Knesset.

Every year, hundreds of bereaved family members attend the event held jointly by the Knesset, the Families and Commemoration Department at the Ministry of Defense, and the Department of Terror Victims at the National Insurance Institute. These entities operate on behalf of the deceased and their families throughout the year.

This year, the Steinberg family, who will fly out from Los Angeles especially for the occasion, will attend the event as guests of the Ministry of Defense.

“There is no such thing as a lone soldier; it is a privilege and honor to pay them our respects,” said the tens of thousands of Israelis who did not know the soldiers but chose to attend their funerals. “Now we understand why he loved Israel – because of the people,” said the late Max’s mother.

The event will likewise be attended by President Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who will recite a poem on stage. Knesset Chairman Yuli Edelstein, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Yair Golan and Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino will recite poems as well.

New immigrant soldiers Max Steinberg and Sean Carmeli fell in the line of duty in the Gaza operation last summer. When the local residents realized that the families of the soldiers would be the only ones attending their sons’ funerals, tens of thousands of Israelis attended the funerals in a national demonstration of solidarity.

In addition, the event will feature the screening of a poignant interview with the mothers of the three kidnapped boys: Bat-Galim Sha’ar, Miriam Frankel and Iris Yifrach, as well as the story of captain of the “Dakar” submarine which disappeared at sea and whose fate remained a mystery for 31 years – from the perspective of the captain’s grandson who is currently completing with distinction a course in submarine command.

The event will be broadcast live on television, radio and leading Israeli websites.

The following are links to video clips about soldiers Max Steinberg and Sean Carmeli and an interview with the mothers of the three kidnapped boys.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}