Written by Baruch Kempinski
Translated by Rivkah Ben-Yisrael
Edited by Juliana Brown
“I’m really sorry, Ro’i,” said Golani Brigade Commander Ghassan Alian, “You can’t go back to being a commander- you need to focus on your own battle!”
Ro’i was seriously injured in Operation Protective Edge in Gaza when serving as a battalion commander in the Golani brigade. The doctors explained that it would take some time for him to return to himself but that it would eventually happen. “And what is certain,” they stressed to him, “is that you cannot go back to a combat position.” But Ro’i refused to give up. Even from his hospital bed, he continued functioning like a battalion commander, assigning roles to his soldiers, interviewing officers, and even completing a law degree. Throughout all this, he continued trying to convince senior officers in the army to let him return to combat. To his sorrow, they refused to consider it because of his medical condition.
After a lengthy rehabilitation, in which Ro’i did not give up his dream for even a moment, he was appointed commander of the officer training school, against all odds, returned to a combat position, and was appointed commander of the elite Egoz unit.
Before Israel’s 70th Independence Day, Ro’i was informed that he had been chosen to light a torch at the official torch-lighting ceremony. “I do not serve this honor,” he said firmly. “I am surrounded by brave, heroic people far more suited than I am.” When he realized he had no choice in the matter, he gave in and was happy to light the torch on behalf of all the soldiers who fought with him and defended the country. Why was he specifically chosen?
Ro’i once attended a farewell ceremony for the Chief of Staff of the US Army, who requested that Ro’i share his story. “There’s just one thing that I don’t understand,” said the American Chief of Staff, “How did such a senior commander as yourself even get injured in battle?” “In our army, the commanders are the first to attack,” Ro’i explained to the astonished Chief of Staff. “All the soldiers get their bravery from their commanders’ courage.”
This fighting spirit was what guided Ro’i during the battles in Kibbutz Re’im on October 7th. He was wounded but insisted that the wound not be bandaged because he knew it would prevent him from continuing to fight alongside his soldiers.
Ro’i continued to fight and rescue residents until he was eventually hit and killed. Whenever we find it hard to stick to any kind of goal, we will think of Ro’i and take one more step and then another, bolstered by his strength.
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