The Heser Yeshiva of Yerucham gathered once again yesterday (Saturday), this time to honor Staff Sergeant Yair Hananya, their tenth alumnus to fall since October 7. The 22-year-old soldier from Mitzpe Netofa, who was just one month away from completing his military service, was killed alongside Staff Sgt. Itay Parizat in Jabaliya when an IED exploded inside a building.
"The pain is unbearable," the yeshiva stated in a message Saturday night. "The 10 yeshiva students who have fallen are an unbearable sacrifice we are forced to bear for the sovereignty of Israel."
Hananya, who served as a platoon sergeant in the Givati Brigade's Shaked Battalion, was remembered by Rabbi Chaim Wolfson, the yeshiva's head, as a "joyful, warm-hearted young man" whose gentle spirit and perpetual smile touched all who knew him. "He had a radiant presence, loved to sing, and contributed his unique voice to musical projects at the yeshiva," Wolfson shared.
The rabbi emphasized Hananya's exceptional character, noting his "rare sincerity that drove him to take on command responsibilities in the army." This decision, Wolfson explained, wasn't an easy one. "This was no simple decision; it was a challenging path that others might have struggled to take. But he persisted, driven by his own truth."
The loss is particularly devastating for Hananya's class, as he is the fourth student from his cohort to fall in the current conflict. The yeshiva community, including both students and faculty, gathered Sunday for words of encouragement and collective reflection, struggling to process yet another farewell to a beloved member of their community.
Since October 7, the toll on this single religious Zionist institution has been staggering. The fallen alumni include:
- Sergeant Ariel Eliyahu, 19
- Sergeant First Class (res.) Yinon Fleishman, 31
- Staff Sergeant Eitan Dov Rosenzweig, 21
- Captain Eitan Fisch, 23
- Sergeant Yakir Yedidya Schenkolewski, 21
- Sergeant Major (res.) Gideon Ilani, 35
- Sergeant Major (res.) Elisha Levinshtern, 38
- Staff Sergeant Efraim Yachman, 21
- Sergeant First Class (res.) Ziv Chen, 27
- Staff Sergeant Yair Hananya, 22
Looking ahead, Rabbi Wolfson expressed both grief and determination: "We – members of the yeshiva and the friends who remain from his unit – are dedicated to supporting one another and grappling with this painful loss. We hope to find the strength to carry on and walk the long path ahead in this just war, praying it ends with a great victory for the people of Israel and the safe return of all our captives."
The losses at Yerucham reflect a broader toll on Israel's military since October 7, with over 560 soldiers having fallen - the highest number since the First Lebanon War. Many of the fallen, like Hananya, were young men under 30, representing diverse segments of Israeli society and leaving behind grieving communities across the nation.
