During that time, I also served in Lebanon, after Israel gave back the Sinai to Egypt and war broke out in the north. While in Lebanon — this was between 1982 and 1985 — I was put in charge of identifying the remains of soldiers who were killed in battle — and many died in that war; more than 650. It was also my task to give spiritual support to the soldiers, and because of this, I was constantly in correspondence with the Rebbe.
I also received many blessings from him to be safe from danger. I felt that the Rebbe was guiding my every step throughout my time in the army, as he had done from the time in my youth when he first advised me to stay in college and use my education to spread Torah, which I have done to the best of my ability ever since then.
Reprinted from the Parshat Re’eh 5784 email of Here’s My Story [with the Lubavitcher Rebbe}, a project of JEM (Jewish Educational Media.) Rabbi Zev Sirota is retired from active service in the IDF and living in Brooklyn, where he continues to spread Torah. He was interviewed in April 2024.
