On Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, as in previous years, I put on tefillin in memory of one of our heroes who fell for our revival and freedom.
This year too, I met with the Rebbe's emissary, Rabbi Or Ziv, who brought with him the tefillin. Each time for a different fighter, a beloved son, a hero of Israel. Every year, a different story. A different heart. A whole world.
This year I had the honor to put on the tefillin of our hero, the late Sean Carmeli.
Sean, a lone soldier who came from the United States to defend the State of Israel, chose to bind his fate with that of our people. Out of deep faith, out of mission. He fell in battle in Gaza – but his spirit continues to live within us, in the heart of the nation.