Lt. Hadar Goldin was laid to rest on Tuesday at the military cemetery in Kfar Saba after a harrowing fight to return his body following 11 years in Hamas captivity.
Goldin was abducted while dismantling a Hamas terror tunnel in Rafah in 2014, the morning an alleged ceasefire was put into place. He was 23 at the time of his murder and was held by Hamas for 4,118 days.
During the funeral procession, speeches were shared by IDF leadership and the slain soldier’s parents. Ruby Chen, the father of the recently returned slain soldier and hostage St.-Sgt. Itay Chen was in attendance just two days after burying his own son.
In his tribute to Goldin, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir called his return the official end of 2014’s Operation Protective Edge, calling Goldin “a compass and conscience for the entire people of Israel, a compass that the IDF will carry through the world.”
He commented on Goldin’s sacrifice for his country, noting that Israel keeps fighting to ensure peace remains across the land.
'We're here because of everything you left us'
His mother, Leah, spoke of the pain of waiting 11 years for his return.
“That’s a long time. A very long time,” she said. “I honestly can’t explain how we did it, except that every time we nearly broke, someone in the family would jump in and say: ‘But what would Hadar say?’ So we’re here because of everything you left us, all your instructions for life, and because of who you are. Except for one small thing – I still hoped you would suddenly appear and say ‘everything’s okay.’ Thank you,” she said.
“I want you to know, I always loved you. There was never any doubt. You didn’t need to ask your teachers if Mom knew you loved me. Yes, I know you love me, and you love [sister] Ayelet, and you love [brother] Chemi, and you love [twin brother] Tzur, and you love Dad, and you love [then-fiancée] Edna. So rest in peace.”
Prof. Simcha Goldin called for a continuation of his son’s legacy.
“Hadar was special in the way he touched people; it is fitting that everyone should take something from him,” he said. “Through all of our tears, always remember Hadar’s smile.
“Hadar was someone who saw joy and a smile as the path to genuine human connection. That’s why it’s so impossible to cry over him. So through all our tears, always remember the radiant smile that represents the proper connection between people.
“That’s what Hadar taught us, and we must continue his path. Hadar never cursed and didn’t allow his students, friends, or subordinates to curse. He saw it as a fundamental weakness.”
He called for society to follow his son’s example, and spoke of his artistic abilities, love of literature, and warrior spirit.
He said that before he enlisted, Goldin had asked his mother, Leah, to teach him to sew, and he successfully embroidered the words “strength and humility” on his rifle strap himself.
“When Moses stands at the moment of redemption from hundreds of years of slavery in Egypt, he goes to bring Joseph’s remains to be buried in the Land of Israel,” Simcha said. “He does this because he knows a promise was made years and generations ago. He knows that promises must be kept, because if you don’t fulfill the promise, redemption will not come.”
Edna Sarusi, who was Goldin’s fiancée when he was killed, called her late partner her hero.
“Hadar, you deserve to be talked about, to give space to your extraordinary personality that walked among us, that influenced so much good and light, and is so deeply missed. There aren’t many words that truly capture you. You are strength and light, creation and humor, thought and depth, intellect and emotion, innocence and love,” she said.
“And somehow, all these beautiful words still feel like they can’t fully express the magnitude of your rare and special personality.”
She focused on the principled struggle presented by his captivity, emphasizing that Israel “does not leave soldiers behind.
“But suddenly, now that you’re here, I understand how sacred and profound it is to bring you home, because this is where you belong and this is where you need to be,” she said.
“I want to remind everyone that the fight isn’t over until we bring our four remaining fallen hostages home – to their families, to our soil – without giving up on anyone. Because that’s what’s right and what must be done.”
Ruby Chen, the father of recently returned slain soldier and hostage St.-Sgt. Itay Chen, was also in attendance just two days after burying his own son.