Emotional Meeting Leads to Tanya Printing for Fallen Heroes

What began as a “chance” encounter at Mount Herzl Cemetery turned into a deeply emotional event this past Sunday night, when in a surprising turn of events a Tanya was printed at an IDF base near Gaza in memory of Commander Dekel Suisa, who was tragically killed on Simchas Torah.

By Anash.org reporter

A powerful and emotional moment took place on Sunday night, the 26th of Teves, at the Pega outpost on the Gaza border. In a miraculous turn of events, a Tanya was printed in memory of Dekel Suisa, a IDF commander who gave his life defending the outpost during an intense battle on Simchas Torah.

Dekel and his unit were attacked that fateful morning by 150 terrorists. He sent many of his soldiers to hide while staying behind to fight. Tragically, he and Roi Perry HY”D, fell, but their bravery saved the base.

The story began earlier that week when bochur Aharon Fraiman visited Mount Herzl Cemetery in Yerushalayim to say Tehillim at the kever of Aner Shapira, who had fallen in the line of duty while saving lives during an attack on a bomb shelter in the south. Aharon met Eden Suisa, Dekel’s brother, near Aner’s grave. The two began talking and it quickly turned into an emotional exchange that lasted over an hour, with Eden sharing the details of his brother’s heroism during the battle at Pega.

At the end of their conversation, Aharon suggested that Eden put on tefillin in honor of Dekel’s memory, and handed him a copy of the Tanya, recently printed in Rafah. The two exchanged contact details, with the plan to continue learning Tanya together.

Hours later, Aharon received an unexpected message from Aryeh Amit, who had been involved in the Tanya printings. Aryeh invited Aharon to a Tanya printing ceremony at… the Paga base! The timing was nothing short of extraordinary—on the very day Aharon met Eden, the plans for the Tanya printing were set to take place at the base where Dekel had sacrificed his life.

Aharon called Eden immediately to share the news. Together, they decided that the Tanya would be printed in the attendance of Dekel’s family and would be dedicated in Dekel’s memory with the edition being called the “Dekel Edition.” Eden and his family were moved and overwhelmed by the timing and the connection.

The Tanya printing ceremony took place Sunday night, with the participation of Dekel’s family, along with the families of Shlomo Baranes HY”D, another fallen soldier.

The crowd became deeply emotional as a Torah, which Dekel had heroically saved from a terrorist attempting to take it to Gaza on Simchas Torah, was dressed in a new mantle prepared in honor of the fallen soldiers. Everyone danced joyfully and with great emotion – knowing that in this very place, the soldiers had been unable to dance that Simchas Torah when they had been fighting for their lives.

In addition to the printing at Paga, the organizers announced plans for future Tanya printings, including one in Aner Shapira’s memory, at the bomb shelter where he saved countless lives.

The Rebbe referred to printing the Tanya as a “personal request”. For those interested in supporting the ongoing Tanya printings or making dedications in memory of the fallen soldiers, please WhatsApp +972-52-552-6660.

Photos: Meir Alfasi, Submitted