50 years ago, On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise attack against Israel on Yom Kippur, a.k.a the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. 

In the Golan Heights, about 180 Israeli tanks went against 1,400 from Syria. Along the Suez Canal, fewer than 500 Israeli defenders with only three tanks were attacked by 600,000 Egyptian soldiers and their 2,000 tanks and 550 aircraft. Clearly, the Israelis were outnumbered. If anyone was putting money on this war, it would not have gone to the Jews.

After a long battle over a few weeks, a cease-fire went into effect on October 25. As a result of the war, Israel gained control of territory four times its previous size. Egypt lost the 23,500-square mile Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip, while Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem and Syria lost the Golan Heights.

It was a real-life example of G-d leading the Jewish people to victory, protecting them and their land, and ultimately having them come out as victors. 

There are many other heroes of the war as well. One in particular is Corporal Moshe Yitzchak Tobal, a Nahal Haredi soldier who was stationed with three other soldiers at a dock, and involved in a small arms and hand grenade battle against Egyptian army forces. During the battle, a grenade was thrown right where they were standing. Tobal jumped and covered his friends in order to save them. After the fall, his body was taken as a prisoner and he only returned years later in the peace agreement with Egypt.

Tobal’s actions earned him certain accolades, but his family believes he should have gotten a higher one. They’ve been fighting for years, and now, to mark the war’s anniversary this year, are trying again. Tobal’s family appealed to the Chief of Staff through Yossi Levy, CEO of the “Netzah Yehuda” association and asked to correct the “historical injustice.”

His family is hopeful that this award will also be a kiddush Hashem. Honoring an Orthodox man who sacrificed his life for others is a beautiful way to help motivate other Orthodox Jews to join the army, Levy explains. Plus, it simply helps show the core values of an Orthodox Jewish life to others who may think negatively.

Levy is hopeful that an award like this can also help reduce the tension and division between different sects of Jewish society in Israel.

As we embark on this holy day yet again, 50 years later, Tobal’s family is hopeful that his memory will be honored in the way that it should.

Source: Nahal Haredi

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