Honouring the memory of a lone soldier killed in Israel’s War of Independence

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On Yom Hazikaron, the Memorial Day for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers, ZAKA volunteers, haredi soldiers and civilians visited the grave of fallen lone soldier Pinchas Soloveitchik, who was killed, aged 22,  on August 13, 1948 during the battle to breach the walls of the Old City near Mount Zion.

ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav flanked by haredi soldiers at the graveside.

He is buried in the courtyard of the Shaarei Zedek hospital in Jerusalem – a lone soldier with no family to honor his memory.

ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi-Zahav said: “In recent years, I and my friend and fellow Jerusalemite Yisrael Gliss have organised a minyan (prayer quorum) at the graveside of this lone soldier. Today, the Memorial Day for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers, ZAKA volunteers, haredi soldiers and civilians stood together by his grave. We prayed and came together in his memory, lighting a memorial candle, reciting Psalms, Kaddish and El Male Rachamim. May his memory be for a blessing.”

Private Pinchas Soloveitchik, son of Yaacov and Chana Soloveitchik, ID number 0173732 was born on October 10, 1926 in Jerusalem. He studied in a Talmud Torah and was one of the brave young men who fought in the Old City of Jerusalem during the War of Independence. He took great care to observe mitzvot, even during times of war. Pinchas was a lone soldier when he served in the Etzel and was killed, aged 22,  on August 13, 1948 during the battle to breach the walls of the Old City near Mount Zion.

A lone soldier (Hebrew: חייל בודד‎‎, Ḥayal Boded) is defined as a serviceman or woman without immediate family in Israel. Lone soldiers serve in regular units and receive various forms of support from the IDF, Israeli government ministries and other organisations.