Remembering Fallen Gaza Soldiers
Israelis Gather at Mount Herzl Cemetery for Selichot Prayers Honoring Fallen Gaza Soldiers
Anonymous
Key Points
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The ceremony honored Master Sgt. (res.) Dov Moshe (Dovy) Kogen, a fighter in the IDF’s Shaldag Unit, and Capt. Yair Yaakov Shushan, a team commander in the Nahal Reconnaissance Unit.
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After the musical remembrance near the graves, participants moved to Section 18A of Mount Herzl Military Cemetery for communal Selichot prayers alongside bereaved relatives, friends and young people who had traveled from Ma’alot.
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Yom Kippur begins at sunset because the Jewish day starts in the evening and lasts roughly 25 hours, during which roads empty, commerce closes and synagogues fill across Israel.
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The holiday’s central idea of teshuvah means more than verbal repentance: it is a “return” to neglected values and responsibilities, with changed conduct required for an apology to have meaning.
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Yom Kippur’s confession is expressed collectively—even when wrongdoing is individual—reflecting the tradition’s insistence that communities examine the conditions and silences that allow failures to occur.
Israelis gathered at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem for Selichot prayers honoring two soldiers killed in Gaza. Master Sgt. Dov Moshe Kogen and Capt. Yair Yaakov Shushan, both from Ma'alot, were remembered through music and communal prayer ahead of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
The ceremony brought together bereaved families, friends and young people from Ma'alot to link religious observance with collective mourning. Yom Kippur itself emphasizes teshuvah—a return to neglected values and responsibilities—requiring changed conduct for repentance to hold meaning.
Two Soldiers Remembered in Solemn Ceremony
The evening honored Master Sgt. (res.) Dov Moshe Kogen, a fighter in the IDF's elite Shaldag Unit, and Capt. Yair Yaakov Shushan, a team commander in the Nahal Reconnaissance Unit. After musical remembrance near their graves, participants moved to Section 18A of Mount Herzl Military Cemetery for Selichot prayers alongside family members and friends who traveled from their hometown.
Yom Kippur's Timing and Central Observance
Yom Kippur begins at sunset because the Jewish day starts in the evening. The holiday lasts roughly 25 hours, during which Israelis fast, close commerce and fill synagogues. The New York Times notes that Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, requiring Jews to practice self-denial and refrain from work.
Teshuvah: Repentance Requires Real Change
The core concept behind Yom Kippur is teshuvah, meaning more than spoken apology. It represents a return to neglected values and responsibilities, with genuine behavioral change required for repentance to carry weight. Without changed conduct, words alone hold no meaning in Jewish tradition.
Yom Kippur's confession is expressed collectively rather than individually. This reflects a core belief that communities must examine the conditions and silences that allow failures to happen. Even personal wrongdoing requires communal reflection and accountability.
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