JERUSALEM (VINnews) — BDE: The IDF announced the death of 38-year-old Staff Sergeant Elisha Levinstern, a father of six from Charish. Elisha volunteered to serve in his reserve tank unit even though he was exempt from service due to his age and number of children. Elisha is the seventh member of Yeshivat Yerucham to be killed in action during the Swords of Steel campaign. He was killed by an anti-tank missile which struck his tank in the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza strip.
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Rabbi Avraham Stav, who teaches Halacha at Har Etzion yeshiva, described Elisha as “A dear friend, gentle, wise, lover of truth and seeker of peace, my Chavrusa for Ktzos Hachoshen.”
In a Facebook eulogy for Levinstern, his friend and colleague from Yerucham Uri Ochayon wrote that “Elisha Levinstein is the legendary Lamdan for me. The one whom I could never be but couldn’t take my eyes away from. Infinite concentration abilities, a life of zero Bittul Torah. I watched him. I was in the room with him and saw him jump up early in the morning and return late to bed. I sat next to him in the Beit Midrash. He heard all of our superfluous small talk and never intervened, just sat and studied Torah the whole time. Only when I had a question in learning he would answer quietly, and I felt honored to receive his attention but there was never any condescension from him.
“Another rare interaction: on Motzaei Shabbos people would eat Melave Malka and sing songs of hope and redemption. Most people got up to leave but Elisha stayed for a song of yearning and faith.
“Hashem took the most learned flower, the most serious and most diligent person that I have held in my memory for the past 15 years.”
BDE. HYD.
Sounds like a beautiful soul.
תנצבה
When I listen to people planning vacations for midwinter recess I get sick to my stomach. How can you go on vacation when waking up daily to these tragedies?
BDE. Over one hundred soldiers Rachmana Litzlon killed since Oct 7.Mnay many widows and orphans Nebach. We have no Senhadrin and the Urim Vetumim to know when and when not to go into war. I suppose we have no choice but to rely on Netanyahu and the IDF generals even though they are secular. Because after all it is they who know bet what’s good for Klal Yisroel
These casualties are because of the policies the US is imposing on Israel. Fight with both hands tied behind your backs or we won’t stand with you or sell you munitions. Look how many casualties Racha”l Israel has had since they started this dreadful urban combat, rooting out the terrorists from booby-trapped tunnels and other mazes in Gaza. I wish Israel could just do what they have to do and thumb their noses at their so-called friends who worry incessantly about Israel’s sworn, savage enemies.