Dvir, a “regular” chayal in the IDF, shared with me his experience of the chagim in Gaza. Dvir’s unit returned to Gaza for the fourth time since the war began, on the morning after the three-day Rosh HaShanah holiday. They were stationed near the Egyptian border where it was quiet – until it wasn’t.
Dvir’s birthday falls just a few days before Yom Kippur. To his surprise, they wished him a happy birthday over the walkie-talkie. It was an unusual gesture that warmed his heart.
In preparation for Yom Kippur, the chayalim received kits containing machzorim, kippot, grape juice, and yahrzeit candles. Combat soldiers are not permitted to fast, so they drink as usual and eat when hungry. It felt strange to say “Yom HaKippurim ha’zeh” while saying “Yaaleh V’Yavo” in bentching – but you do what you have to do.
The army provided the chayalim with daled minim along with a card with the brachos printed on it. The card was distributed in memory of Yosef Malachi Guedalia, a soldier from Beit Shemesh who fell on October 7. On Sunday, Dvir’s unit built a sukkah, using a pole he found that he figures had been used years ago in a Gush Katif sukkah. They decorated it with a picture of a pomegranate and a fig that they found in the building where they slept. One soldier hung a photo of his cousin who was killed in battle in Gaza. They used branches they cut down from a palm tree for s’chach.
On Wednesday afternoon, Erev Sukkos, while scanning the area from their armored vehicles, one of the chayalim noticed suspicious activity not far from their station. Several armed terrorists were moving in and out of buildings. As the chayalim approached to assess the situation, the terrorists realized they were being watched. They opened fire, seriously injuring one of the soldiers. The unit quickly placed the injured soldier on their tank and transferred him to a Hummer. The Hummer brought him to a helipad where he was evacuated by helicopter to the hospital. Dvir and his team, riding in their achzarit (armored vehicle) stocked with blood, transported paramedics to the Hummer, where they administered a transfusion. Baruch Hashem, the injured soldier is now in stable condition.
The achzarit then moved to back up the soldiers confronting the terrorists. Dealing with multiple terrorists across several buildings required immense coordination. Every move had to be precise to avoid friendly fire. Using thermal drones – some possibly donated by US citizens – allowed them to see the terrorists inside the buildings at night. The soldiers in the tanks fired shells, forcing the terrorists to take cover in nearby buildings. A few terrorists ran into one building while one ran alone into another. The soldiers continued shelling. The lone terrorist, though wounded, refused to die and ran from floor to floor, room to room. Eventually, they killed him and continued fighting throughout the night until all the terrorists were eliminated.
The next morning, as the soldiers combed the battle area for terrorists, hostages, and tunnel shafts, they found a body that strongly resembled Yahya Sinwar, ym”s. At first, they joked about it, but as they got closer, they noticed his distinctive teeth and realized it might really be him. They quickly forwarded a photo to their commander, who passed it up the ranks. On Yom Tov afternoon, their commander came to speak with them. He asked them to sit down, then confirmed that the terrorist they had killed was indeed Sinwar. The soldiers were stunned.
On Thursday, Dvir and his unit retrieved the bodies of the other terrorists killed in the battle. He was scheduled to leave Gaza on Friday and go straight home for Shabbos Chol HaMoed, but the situation changed, and they didn’t want Hummers traveling on the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land situated along the entirety of the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Dvir’s family felt disappointed when he told them he probably wouldn’t make it home for Shabbos. But if this war has taught us anything, it’s to keep things in perspective. Of course, his family wanted him home, but in the bigger picture, it wasn’t the most important thing.
Dvir says that he walked in the door to his home just as his mother was lighting Yom Tov candles in the sukkah! Dvir was wearing a filthy uniform, a ceramic vest, and a helmet, and was weighed down with a big gun and other heavy equipment. He rarely brings all his gear home, but the late hour left no time for him to drop it off at his base. After giving his mother a quick hug, he ran to take a lightning-speed shower.
Dvir and some other soldiers were given clearance to leave Gaza. The others headed to their base. But Dvir was permitted to go home. He did not have enough time to travel by public transportation before Shabbos. Instead, he got a ride to an intersection where a taxi was waiting to take him home. His commander offered to use money from their unit to pay for it if the army won’t cover it. Some of the unit’s funds likely came from money raised in the US. Thank you!
This is a Yom Tov I’m sure nobody in Dvir’s family will ever forget. As they sat in their sukkah, remembering how Hashem protected his people when they traveled for 40 years in the midbar, they also felt how Hashem’s protection endures across generations – guiding us then, guiding us now.
Please continue to daven for the recovery of the wounded, the release of the remaining hostages, and the success and safe return of all soldiers and security personnel.
Suzie Steinberg, (nee Schapiro), CSW, is a native of Kew Gardens Hills and resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh who publishes articles regularly in various newspapers and magazines about life in general, and about life in Israel in particular. Her recently published children’s book titled Hashem is Always With Me can be purchased in local Judaica stores as well as online. Suzie can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and would love to hear from you.
