Five Jewish soldiers from the US Army who fell during the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese were given an exciting tribute as their tombstones were changed from Christian to Jewish
Manila cemetery // Photo: Embassy of Israel in the Philippines
In the US military cemetery, Manila, Philippines, an exciting ceremony was held last week in which five crosses were exchanged for David's shields. The unique event was attended by the Israeli ambassador to the Philippines, Rafi Harpaz, the US ambassador to the United States and US military representatives, and US military families.
Those who initiated the ceremony were members of Operation Binyamin, who spent several years locating the graves of Jewish soldiers in the U.S. Army who were accidentally buried as Christians.
The organization began its operations after it became clear that during World War II there were many instances where Jewish cavities were inadvertently buried with a cross. Together with the U.S. government and the U.S. military, members of the organization locate the graves and carry out the replacement, as happened last week.
Harpaz said that in this case there were five soldiers killed in battles in the state and the South Pacific during the war, and that the incident was unique. "The families of the cavalry spoke at the ceremony, and the rabbis said the Kaddish prayer and God mercifully. As the Israeli ambassador, it is one of the most exciting events I have attended. Every soldier and his personal story, who were buried as Jews as they were born, 75 years after they were killed."
He noted that the founder of Operation Benjamin, Rabbi Jacob Schechter, said in a Hebrew event that when these soldiers fell in the midst of World War II, they could not imagine that the State of Israel would come up today and serve as ambassador to the Philippines.