"How Did You Lose This Battle?" A Father’s Eulogy for Capt. Noam Madmoni, HY"D

At the military cemetery in Sderot, Captain Noam Madmoni, HY"D, a team commander in Sayeret Nahal, was laid to rest this afternoon (Tuesday) after falling last night in battle with terrorists in Lebanon. Noam studied at the Torani Hadash elementary school in Sderot, and later at the yeshiva high school in Kfar Maimon. He was also a member of Bnei Akiva. He is survived by his parents, Boaz and Sharona; his brother, Uri; and his sisters, Hadar and Avia.

His father, Boaz, eulogized him: "I am a proud father of an officer. Your wonderful smile, my special son—I am proud, and he is humble, courteous, without arrogance or haughtiness; always modest, always determined. Noam doesn’t lose at anything. How did you lose this battle? I don’t know, I can’t believe it... How did we lose such a hero. Now you join the holy ones. Now Noam’s candle has gone out, the candle that united us. Honoring one’s parents is the value you always clung to. All your ways are pleasantness. I love you and I am proud of you; the crown of our head has fallen. I ask: enough of our troubles."

His former commander delivered a eulogy from Lebanon via the red phone: "Madmoni, my dear brother, my brother-in-arms. A month ago you asked me to help you reach Sayeret Nahal. I saw you in the battle drill, I saw your sense of responsibility. Hashem does not share His choices with us, but you are His best fruit. I learned from you about love, about friendship—you will always be in my heart."

"You loved your soldiers and demanded a lot from them, just as you demanded from yourself," an IDF representative eulogized him. "Yesterday you were killed while leading your comrades; sadly, you arrived at the reconnaissance unit only a few days ago. It is hard to describe the loss. You fell defending the people and the land against a murderous enemy. I salute you on your final journey as a brave and heroic commander."

At the Lahavim cemetery, Sgt. First Class Ben Cohen, HY"D, was laid to rest. His father, Tzvika, eulogized: "At first I didn’t want to speak. But I see the honor my child is receiving—a child who always sought to help the weak. Even if I put him ten times in the same situation, he would do the same thing. He believed with all his heart that he was going to protect and make it possible for everyone to live here in security. I don’t know and have never known feelings like the ones I have experienced since last night. But one thing I do know is that everything I thought about my child I now see tenfold. In the end, we are people. Not soldiers and not commanders. People who live with one another. Only this way will we win."

At the same time, relatives, friends, and admirers came to the military cemetery in Holon to accompany Sgt. First Class Maksim Antis, HY"D, 21, from Bat Yam, on his final journey. He is survived by his parents, Leonid and Larisa, a brother and a sister.