The Samaria Regional Council announced Saturday night the tragic loss of Shneur Zalman Cohen, a 20-year-old resident of Yitzhar, who fell in battle in Gaza.
Cohen is survived by his parents, Ze'ev and Dina, and his eight siblings. He grew up in Yitzhar and served in the Givati Brigade, having studied at the Mitzpeh Yitzhar yeshiva. The Cohens, part of the Chabad-Lubavitch community, are one of Yitzhar’s oldest families.
He marks the 25th fallen soldier from the Samaria Regional Council in the ongoing conflict. During Shabbat, the Cohen family was supported by professional teams from the Council and the Yitzhar community.
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan mourned, "Shneur was a person with inner grace which shined outward. He learned Torah, and he was also a talented fighter. Before he enlisted, he volunteered in the regional defense. He was raised by a family of true pioneers, Dina and Ze'ev Cohen, who moved - at the height of the Oslo war - the Second Intifada - to live in Sa-Nur and strengthen the towns of northern Samaria. They are dedicated to all of the town's needs. Since October 7, his father has been serving in the reserves, in the regional defense of Samaria."
"The Samaria Regional Council will support the family with everything it needs. The entire Samaria family is mourning and embraces the Cohen family."