Gal Carmeli speaks about her brother at the Modiin synagogue

Photos by Anthony Green

THREE lone soldiers who died in the 2014 conflict with Gaza were remembered in a special commemorative evening held in Modiin. Relatives and friends of Sean Carmeli, Max Steinberg and Jordan Ben Simone, shared stories at the ceremony in Titura Synagogue.

Those who spoke told of the soldiers’ passion for humankind and how important the State of Israel was to them.

Sean Carmeli and Max Steinberg came on aliyah from the U.S. while Jordan Ben Simone was from France.

Sean Carmeli’s sister, Gal, reminisced about Sean’s time in Israel before his death. She told the congregation: “A few days before they entered Gaza – when there was still fun in the air – we would speak in a family group chat on WhatsApp.

“I wrote in the chat ‘I hope they won’t send you guys, and instead continue to bomb from the air.’”

Sean responded: ‘I have to go in or else innocent people will die.” Said Gal: “I think it was amazing that he said that.”

Sean died when an anti-tank missile hit his vehicle in Gaza, killing him and 13 other Golani soldiers.

Michael Pesin, a friend of Max Steinberg, told of Max’s love for musician Bob Marley, and respect he had for his comrades.

“He came here at 23, and when he served in the army he was the oldest amongst the soldiers – even the commanders.

“His experience was different because he felt a little responsible, like the responsible adult,” Pesin explained.

Of Jordan Ben-Simon, the shul chairman, Harel Badichi, hailed his bravery and devotion to the Jewish state and its people.

Mr Badichi  said that during training, Jordan’s commading officer had to convince him to take leave and visit his parents after not seeing them for more than a year.

Former MK Rav Dov Lipman said he was amazed at the numbers of people who attended the funerals – tens of thousands attended each.
Some of those who attended the event organized by shul member Avraham Remeny (fourth from right) included former MK Dov Lipman (third from right)

Recalling Max Steinberg’s funeral, he said: “When we got to Mount Herzl and the family saw 35,000 people, they didn’t understand that these people were there for Max.”

The Chief Rabbi of Modiin, Rabbi Eliyahu Elharar, said that the city’s community had a profound connection with IDF soldiers.

Modiin, he said, had helped lone soldiers throughout their journeys, and had hosted similar events in the past.

None of Ben Simone’s relatives or friends were at the memorial because they were attending a similar event in Ashkelon on the same day.
Max Steinberg Sean Carmeli
Jordan Ben Simone