Two Hesder Yeshiva students, arrived in a tanks' parking lot in The Golan Heights, in order to 

organize and lead the prayers during Yom Kippur of 1973.

All they brought along with them, were their Talit and Prayer books.

The war caught them and the rest of the soldiers, along with the whole country, in complete 

surprise.

Both Yeshiva students were "Tank Professionals" – combat soldiers. One was a loader-signaler 

and the other was a tank driver.

One of those guys was Avner, my younger brother.

They were not equipped with military supplies, did not have a crew and of course, no tank.

Therefore, as the battles broke out, in the midst of heavy shelling, they were abandoned.

Eventually, after extreme hardship and suffering and thanks to strength and spirit, they

escaped from that horror, but went back to fighting out of tanks. So did many other soldiers 

from different army units and Israeli sectors. Many of them were abroad when the war broke. 

They all rushed and insisted on getting recruited, whether they were called, or not.

Their story is the essence of the story of Hesder Yeshiva students.

One hand holds the holy text book and the other holds the weapon.

The mind and the heart are dedicated to both, out of total devotion and self-sacrifice till the

last moments of living.

The story is also told through the path of grief, experienced by family and friends.

Anyone who is interested in knowing more about Israel's wars, or moreover, took part or 

experienced the result of those wars, will find interest in this book.

The Hour of Ne’ilah (from the book)

At Ne’ilah time, Avner was in a bunker near Mount Peres, at Rafid Junction, while we were in our neighborhood synagogue. Every year, at the time of the Ne’ilah service, a yearning arises within me unlike any other. 

In the bunker at Rafid sat dozens of soldiers, sealed shut. The bunker shook and echoed with the thundering of tanks charging outside it, as explosions gave word of the war raging all around. All ears were attentive to the sounds of battle, when they heard Avner announce the beginning of Nei’lah service. Avner was not a loud man, he was quiet, shy, and never raised his voice. In the midst of battle - which had only begun and already raged in fury - fear filled the corners of every heart and left room for nothing, not even prayers. Still, Avner noticed the time and encouraged his friends to start the Ne’ilah service. 

After the war, his friends told me that another man had stood up to lead the prayers, but was unable to bear the weight of the position as his entire body was tense and his mind unable to concentrate. He asked Avner to carry on in his stead, and Avner immediately agreed. His voice rang clearly and purely, and shook the dark bunker out of its despair and ignited in it a confidence and a hope for salvation. And when the day was ending, and the echo of the Shofar blowing reverberated through the bunker, Avner began to sing loudly and enraptured the men with him: “Next year in Jerusalem.”

For the past 40 years, I've buried the pain, frustration and strange thoughts deep inside and never expressed them in any way.
Feelings turned into thoughts, thoughts into words and words into this book.
In it you'll find many things people experience but don't share. These were put into words through interviews with friends and family.
There are also eyewitness accounts from the battlefield. The work wasn't easy, it was very difficult, and spanned several years.

In order for the book to be published as a quality product I'm being assisted by professionals, and so the costs are high (higher than what's being asked).
I ask you to give a helping hand to a project that expresses the feelings of many. Many who haven't spoken up.
It also acts as a salute to those who heard the call and came to fight even though they weren't asked.
The fallen, the injured, and those who were hurt in ways that aren't apparent.