‘An excruciating sacrifice we are forced to bear to protect the sovereignty of Israel.’
By Hezy Laing
The Hesder Yeshiva in Yeruham, like all yeshivas in the Hesder program, combines Torah study with army service in a five year program from ages 18-23.
When war breaks out, these graduates aren’t watching from the sidelines—they’re on the front lines.
Tragically, that means the cost of their leadership and selflessness is sometimes paid in lives.
Incredibly ten students and alumni of the yeshiva have fallen since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023.
This includes both active soldiers and reservists, most of whom served in combat roles.
Many of the alumni served in elite or high-risk positions within the IDF, meaning they were often placed in the most dangerous environments during times of war.
This readiness to step up reflects the yeshiva’s values: dedication to Am Yisrael (the Nation of Israel), commitment to defending the state, and personal courage driven by a sense of divine and communal duty.
The loss has been described by the yeshiva as “an excruciating sacrifice we are forced to bear to protect the sovereignty of Israel.”
Many of these young men were known not only for their military service but also for their deep commitment to Torah study and community leadership.
During the war a powerful song was created by some of the yeshiva’s students — not simply as a melody, but as a tribute forged in fire and grief.
“From the Depths I Called You”, set to the soul-stirring words of Psalm 118, became a vessel of memory and hope during the brutal 2023–2025 Gaza conflict.
The song’s creators, Ephraim Yechman z”l and Matanel Lisner, were not just yeshiva students—they were IDF soldiers thrust into the chaos of war.
In moments of rare quiet, they found solace in music, transforming the biblical verse “Out of distress I called to G-d, He answered me and set me free” into a powerful anthem of faith and solidarity.
Their melody reflected the emotional weight of their experience—fear, brotherhood, and the fragile thread of belief that sustained them through combat.
The death of fellow students Itamar Rotsenstein and Yakir Yedidiah Shinkolovsky deepened their resolve.
Ephraim and Matanel decided to release the song as a tribute to their friends—and to all who had fallen.
Only weeks later, Ephraim was killed in battle in Deir Tufah, Gaza.
On what would have been his 23rd birthday, Matanel shared the song with the world, turning personal loss into communal remembrance.
“From the Depths I Called You” has since become a living eulogy, honoring ten students and alumni from Yeshivat Hesder Yerucham.
Performed by the yeshiva’s 28th class, its message resonates far beyond the battlefield: faith endures, and memory lives through music.
The yeshiva officially opened in 1993, with Rabbi Blumenzweig as its leader.
