In honor of Yom Hazikaron, Leibel Mangel; former lone soldier, grandson of Holocaust survivor Rav Nissen Mangel, son of shliach Rabbi Yisroel Mangel – shares a poem he wrote shortly after Operation Protective Edge.
We just got the word that another brother was taken from us.
I stop in my tracks. I collapse to my knees.
The bullets still whizzing on by, the explosions still ringing in our ears.
The ground shaking beneath us.
For a moment though, all is still.
For a moment, the silence becomes deafening.
Clutching my weapon, I stare up at heaven.
Tears run down my face.
G-D, I don’t know how much more of this my heart can take.
Just 19 years old. A man, but at the same time just a child.
Another family destroyed.
Another father and mother that will never dance at their son’s wedding.
Another helping hand and warm embrace from an older brother that will be but a distant memory.
How are we supposed to move on? How many tears must be shed?
How much blood must be spilled?
How many funerals must we attend?
How much more must we sacrifice?
How many of our fathers, sons, and brothers will you continue to take?
Please, make it stop.
For a moment, I am ready to give up. I can’t do this, I simply have had enough.
As an explosion rocks the city, I come back to my senses.
We are warriors of Israel.
We are fighters for the Jewish people.
“If not me, then who?”
This is our mentality.
We fight till the end, to honor the sacrifice of so many who came before us.
We fight till the end, because of our love for who and what stand behind us.
We cry. We hurt. We feel indescribable pain.
Still, we never stop fighting.
Still, we never stop living.
This is strength. This is pride.
… We just got word that another brother was taken from us…
To my 23,544 brothers and sisters: you are my heroes not because you died.
You are my heroes because of how badly you wanted to live. How badly you wanted your family and your people to live.
I promise you, no matter how much pain, no matter how many tears, I will never stop fighting.
I will never stop fighting to give parents the joy of dancing at their child’s wedding.
I will never stop fighting to give siblings another embrace with their brother or sister.
I will never stop fighting to give our people the blessing of LIVING.
I will never stop fighting for our uniform, country, and people – that the world so desperately wishes to destroy.
I salute you now and forever.
Am Yisrael Chai! The nation of Israel lives!
I can’t understand that. Where is that idea even coming from? A day to remember our fallen soldiers, our heroes. Yes, the Rebbe stood for always moving forward–taking action–growing–and we are not to be sad or dwell on sad things–I understand that, too—but from where do you get this idea that he would not honor fallen soldiers?
You call yourself a chossid, you forgot to add a very big chossid shoiteh! Don’t bring the Rebbe into your sinas chinam. If you don’t like what the person wrote, DON’T read it. But while you are sitting here in your comfortable little cacoon DON’T DARE criticize someone who fights for the land the Rebbe so staunchly supported, and the person who looked death in the face on a regular basis. THAT is CERTAINLY not the Rebbe’s derech!!!!!
To everyone hating on #1 yes its an amazing poem but the fact that they put it out in connection with yom haatzmautis what #1 was saying was the “problem”
no one answered my q
the rebbe never said to “honor yom hazikaron” on the contrary
nothing to be ashamed of. i will always be aproud chossid
Yes I agree #1 must apologize! It was a very insensitive remark! I don’t know why you would say something like that, maybe it was out of ignorance… I don’t know… but please do your research better and apologize!
Don’t forget that his other grandfather is also a Shliach, Harav Sholom Kalmanson from Cincinnati. His great grandfather, Harav Yisroel Shimon Kalmanson, the Rebbe’s shochet.
This young man has many of the great traits of his grandfathers and parents. He speaks beautifully for Chabad Houses and on college campuses. A real special Neshama!
We are all TZIVOS HASHEM,as chayaley isroel,some are in gashmius army and some in the ruchnius one.may we have no more tears and wars and greet Moshiach already
Ad masay!!
To #1
We need to add in Ahavas Isroel all the time,that’s the yikun we r here to do,but how much more during sfira!!
that kind of post is not mentioned in the Rebbe’s writings. Let’s not forget whom we are and what we stand for
Thank you for sharing this most moving and meaningful poem,
May Hashem protect all the soldiers who stand guard Eretz Yisroel day and night,
Who with Hashem’s help, allow each one of us who don’t live in Eretz Yisroel, to visit and be safe on our trips there, and where our children who are learning in Israel may be safe and sound.
To #1 the lack of sensitivity and ahavas yisroel is really sad and upsetting to read.
I would like to ask you: If one of the fallen chayalim would be your brother or sister or son or daughter, would you also make that comment?????????
I suggest that you openly apologize here – the same place where you made your comment. This will be a favor for yourself and an honor for the fallen soldiers and for יבלחט”א the young soldier the writer of the beautiful heartfelt poem.
I think I am gonna post it on Facebook and just pretend like I wrote it…
very nice
from brough park
Such a heartfelt poem from a person with such depth, caring and purpose. What a fine person is Rabbi Mangel’s grandson, what depth of neshama he has.
Number 15 I am with you all the way! I couldn’t have expressed it any better than you did! You’re saying what so many of us are thinking/feeling! Im sure that the Rebbe would have applauded and saluted this young chayil, who has witnessed so much tragedy, sadness, fear and tears, in his 19 young years. . . Can you not give credit where credit is due!! KolHakavod to you, young soldier of ours! Im proud to be Chabad where you come from too, and may Hashem bless you, that you no longer ever experience such sadness again!! Number 1… Read more »
So wonderfully heartwarming and positive .We need more .Keep up the good work.Nachas Ruach for the Rebbe MHM.
During this time Rabbi akivas students passed away because they lacked in ahavas Yisrael. Let’s now have extra ahavas Yisrael so mashiach can come and Am Yisrael will finally be reunited together with all our fallen heros!
Amen!!
Again, I see that when someone writes something heartfelt and beautiful, others in our community must find something wrong with it – because the Rebbe’s name was not mentioned, or they think the Rebbe would not have approved.
The Rebbe was the epitome and essence of Ahavas Yisroel. Can’t you stop this bickering and holier than thou attitude?
don’t say anything, Leave this wonderful young man alone if you can’t say anything nice.
I say we need more young bochurim like this grandson of rabbi mangel. Kol Hakovod to you and stay safe!!
This moved me to tears.
I would just like to point out, for whatever it is worth, as I tend to notice these sorts of things- but if one adds up the individual digits of the number of fallen heroes, one will arrive at the number 18=chai, LIFE. Life lost. But also it’s that LIFE-that soul of the Jewish People, forever united, forever enduring.
Beautiful poem.
Beautifully written!
Thank you for serving our country!
Am Yisrael Chai!
From the bottom of my heart I thank you, Leible mangel. for being on the front lines protecting our people and our country!
This is not a “nice” poem. It is a heart-wrenching personal testimonial to our chayalim, those who protect our Holy Land. You speak about “who we are and what we stand for.” We stand for the existence of our people Am Yisrael in our eternal Homeland. This is in line with the Rebbe’s directives. I am offended by your lack of sensitivity on this day when we mourn our nation’s tremendous losses.
What are you talking about ? every word of our holy Rebbe was full of compassion, there are 9,157 families in the land of Israel mourning someone who died protecting our holy land –
How can you make a comment like that ? Do you have no heart ??
Hats off to rabbi Mangel for his service!
He also made a nice post on Facebook when he went with his grandfather to Auschwitz. Only one thing I was confused about that he told his grandfather that now Auschwitz couldn’t happen again because there’s an Israeli army. Or something like that. “We won’t let it happen again.” I think you should be clarified that while we have to do everything we can such as having an army, etc, ultimately our salvation comes from the Creator of the universe.
The Rebbe honored the chayalim often. He didn’t need one special day. However, you apparently don’t live in Israel and don’t appreciate the sacrifice of the chayalim. There is nothing wrong w a country honoring its fallen heroes. There are no extras that one must do on this day – or anything about it against Halacha. Do you live in that country that celebrates Memorial Day – honors its fallen heroes by having a BBQ and opening the beach lifeguard season? At least in Israel it’s more meaningful.
Beautiful. Extremely powerful
There is no way a small army can stand up against tens of millions of soldiers from the neighboring countries were it not for Divine protection.
Our real koach is in Torah and mitzvos. When we are strong spiritually, the few who need to be on the battlefield who are not made ofr full time yeshiva study will see miracles in their physical warfare.
What a powerful writer and speaker
Wow! All I can say. Words from the heart penetrate the heart.
Nice poem.I like it very much.
However.
Where did you ever see mention of this day in the Rebbes, Writings? Please let’s not forget whom we are and what we stand for.