Sergeant Hanan Kay (22), the brother of the late Eliyahu Kay, who was killed in a terrorist attack near the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem on November 21, 2021, will light the memorial candle this year at a Masa ceremony.
In a conversation with Israel Today, Hanan said that "I immigrated to Israel four years ago, when Eliyahu already lived in the kibbutz. In fact, slowly my whole family immigrated to Israel after Eliyahu."
Hanan says that he is happy to follow in his brother's footsteps.
He said, "He enlisted in the paratroopers before me as a soldier, and I am happy to follow in his footsteps and also be a 3rd Division sergeant. It is in some ways an attempt to continue to meet him within my life."
Sergeant Hanan Kay, Photo: Courtesy of the family
Hanan adds that "after the attack in which Eliyahu was killed, the family decided to continue living. I am in the army, my parents work, my brothers too. This is our way of continuing it, keeping his will by living in Israel and becoming Israelis. Of course there is an association we established to commemorate "And our way is to initiate projects related to his work. For example, he traveled all over the country and engaged in agriculture, so we are also going to write a Torah scroll that will travel around the country in places he liked, and we will also help projects related to agriculture."
"Agriculture was close to his heart"
"Farming and agriculture in the country was a topic that was very close to Eli's heart. He had very big ambitions in this field, and we too will continue this farming. We are currently only in the early stages of these initiatives of the association. Among other things, we plan to bring groups of young people From abroad that will help agriculture in the country, for farming.
We will show them how to establish settlements and how to work in agriculture. "
Hanan says that for him the memory of his brother is mainly as a person, and this is the greatest example he takes from him - to be human.
"There are many who present him as a great man, but I want to remember him for his lights and shadows, not to glorify him and make him perfect, but to make him a whole man, to meet his sides in life and live by their light. That is my role in Elijah's memory My relationship with him, "he says.
We spoke with Hanan in honor of the memorial service held by Masa, the founder of the Jewish Agency and the Government of Israel.
Every year, the organization holds the International Day of Remembrance for IDF Martyrs and Victims of Hostilities from the Diaspora in Latrun, with the participation of thousands of "Journey" participants and in the presence of the Diaspora Minister, government and IDF representatives, Jewish Agency heads and Zionist institutions.
In fact, this is the only and largest ceremony in Israel that miraculously commemorates the lone soldiers and new immigrants who came to Israel to enlist in the IDF and fell in service or were killed in hostilities.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us