Rachel Goldberg, wife of the late Rabbi Avi Goldberg, spoke today (Sunday) in an interview with Yaara Zered about her husband's great dedication to the army, out of adherence to the commandment of the Torah and the victory of the spirit.
Rabbi Goldberg fell in battle in southern Lebanon. He was a captain in the IDF and a beloved teacher at the Himmelfarb yeshiva high school in Jerusalem.
"As far as the soldiers are concerned, that's where 'Am Yisrael Chai' is expressed. They represent devotion, the shoulder on the shoulder, the true love of Israel that brings life to the world," Rachel explained.
When asked about Avi's decision to go into battle, she replied: "There was no question at all. It was clear that more people were needed in the army. Avi took the course for military rabbis, became an officer, and on Simchat Torah last year he got the call and went to defend the homeland."
During the swearing-in, the family asked the Knesset members to come in pairs, a member of the coalition, and a member of the opposition. According to her, the response was moving and surprising: "There were over 50 Knesset members here who came in pairs. It wasn't 'as if' – they really are friends."
Rachel argued that the way to bring about change in Israeli society is to "open your heart and take responsibility. People need to know each other, understand each other's difficulties, and not act out of judgment or condescension. That's what my father believed in and that's what we need now."
* Channel 14 contributed to this article.