In Memory of a Fallen Soldier: Learning Mesillat Yesharim

Photo Credit: Canva, IDF spokesperson unit

Students at the Netzach Yisrael boys’ elementary school in Beit Shemesh have recorded a song based on the opening verse of the book “Mesillat Yesharim” that they will be learning in memory of Hillel Eliyahu Ovadia hy”d. At the launch of their special learning project, the principal of the school, Rabbi Shaul Miller, told the moving story of how the idea was born. 

Leaving school one day in October 2024, Rabbi Miller encountered a parent of two school pupils who had recently returned from his duties as an Army chaplain, which was preparing the bodies of fallen soldiers for burial. Several soldiers had been killed in action in Gaza that week, and one of them had been carrying a well-worn copy of “Mesillat Yesharim” (The Path of the Just) – a book of Jewish wisdom written in the 18th century by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto. This was probably the first Jewish “self-help book”, written to help every individual to perfect their character. 

The soldier had also carried a notebook, in which he recorded his attempts to become a better person. Even during active service in Gaza, he noted down the ways in which he was striving to improve his observance of Jewish law. Rabbi Miller was very moved by this story and asked the name of the soldier, but the chaplain felt it inappropriate to divulge. He shared the story of the solder and his notebook with his students.  

Later that week, Rabbi Miller found himself in Jerusalem and decided to visit one of the many families sitting shiva for their soldier sons. By chance (or Divine planning), he found himself at the home of a 22-year old soldier, Hillel Eliyahu Ovadia, listening to his father describing his late son’s enthusiasm for Torah learning. Rabbi Miller was struck by the coincidence, and sent a message to the Army chaplain to ask if Hillel was the soldier had carried a copy of “Mesillat Yesharim” into battle. He introduced himself to Hillel’s father and told him what he had heard from the chaplain who had prepared his son’s body for burial. Moshe Ovadia confirmed that his son had loved that book since he learned it before his Bar Mitzvah, and carried it everywhere. 

Rabbi Miller decided that the example of this fallen soldier, and his dedication to Torah learning and self-improvement, should be shared with his young students. They decided to launch a “Mesillat Yesharim” learning project in memory of Hillel Eliyahu Ovadia hy”d, and to record a song based on the opening verse of the book, together with a video depicting his short life. The words of that verse say: “The foundation of piety and the root of perfect service of G-d is for a man to clarify and come to realize as truth what is his obligation in his world.” 

“I can think of no better message to share with our students than the importance of striving for self-improvement through Torah learning, while fighting to defend the Jewish nation”, says Rabbi Miller. “We never knew Hillel Eliyahu, but we have met his parents and shared our project with them. We hope that it will bring them some comfort to know that their son has become a role model for our students, and that his soul will be elevated through our learning of his favorite Torah text.” 

Talmud Torah Netzach Yisrael is the flagship elementary school of the Netzach Educational Network, established by Rabbi Menachem Bombach to provide an outstanding Haredi Torah education alongside high-level core curriculum subjects. Since the events of October 7 and the start of the war, all 15 Netzach schools have been actively engaged in chesed projects and tefillot for Israel’s soldiers, for the return of the hostages, and to support those evacuated from their homes in Northern and Southern Israel.  

Please enjoy this video of the opening verse of “Mesillat Yesharim” sung by students from Talmud Torah Netzach Yisrael and memorializing Hillel Eliyahu Ovadia hy”d.

 

Written by Roz Lyons