Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated in the introduction of a Torah scroll in memory of the son of the ambassador to the US, a traditional way to honor the deceased, on Tuesday.
Addressing the family at the ceremony, Netanyahu said, “he was a symbol and role model for an Israeli, a Jew, who fought for our existence and sacrificed his life for the perpetuation of Israel, and also did much in the 'Kodcode' program, so that we would all join in this sacred mission.”
Kodcode is a program Leiter had been involved in, dedicated to training haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men in computer science so that they could serve in IDF Unit 8200.
Speaking about the ceremony, he said: “This is a very moving moment. I remember visiting you during the days of Shiva. Heartbreaking.”
Netanyahu spoke about the role that Yechiel Leiter, Moshe’s father, has on the international stage as the Israeli Ambassador to the US, saying, “[you] now bear the burden of representing Israel in the most important arena among the nations, and there you present the righteousness of our path, our right to Israel, the heritage of our people, the belief in our victory.”
He also spoke about the Israel-Hamas War as a whole: “In the past two years, we have done much to establish our existence in this country.”
Netanyahu addressed victory and morale: “We are determined to complete the war in all arenas, including disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip to ensure that Gaza does not represent a greater danger.”
“It seems to me that our greatest victory, which surprised the whole world, is the victory of the spirit. This spirit is expressed wonderfully in the story of the sacrifice and spirit of Moshe Leiter, who is a role model for the entire Jewish people and also, I can tell you, for many of Israel's friends in the world.”
Who was Maj. (res.) Moshe Leiter?
Maj. (res.) Moshe Leiter, 39, was killed in battle in the northern Gaza Strip on November 10, 2023. Son of Yechiel Leiter, Israeli Ambassador to the US, Maj. (res.) Leiter served as a paramedic and was due to start training at a hospital to become a doctor.
Leiter is survived by his wife and six children, the youngest of whom was under three months old when he died.
At his funeral, his wife said, “You are still inside me even though you are gone. You died a hero’s death… your almost 40 years were like 80 years for anyone else. You were one big light, and now the light has been spread into a thousand tiny pieces.”
He was killed alongside three fellow reservists; Sgt. Maj. (res.) Yossi Hershkovitz, Master Sgt. (res.) Matan Meir, and Master Sgt. (res.) Sergey Shmerkin.
“It is a great privilege to be here at the introduction of a Torah scroll in his name, and I would like to bless each and every one of you, who are engaged in this sacred work of commemorating his continued activity,” said Netanyahu.