Son of Fallen IDF Soldier Enlists One Year After Father’s Death

Almost a year after losing his father in a deadly ambush on Israel’s northern border, 20-year-old Yehuda Moyal has enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces determined to walk in the footsteps of a man who gave his life defending the Jewish state.

Yehuda is the son of Warrant Officer (res.) Shaul Moyal, who was killed in October during a fierce battle with Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon. The clash, involving grenades and automatic fire, caused a blaze that led to the collapse of the building where Shaul and his comrades were stationed. He died alongside five other reservists.

Shaul, a reservist in the elite 8207th Battalion, was more than a soldier. He was a father of ten, a revered high school educator, and a man deeply rooted in Torah, community, and Zionist values. His loss reverberated through both Israel’s educational and military communities.

Now, Yehuda carries his father's torch. He recently enlisted in the Kfir Brigade’s Netzah Yehuda Battalion, a combat unit known for integrating religious soldiers into front-line service. “It’s a profound mission to enlist in a combat unit and continue my father’s path,” Yehuda said. “I told him once that I was scared, and he said, ‘If everyone thinks like that, who will enlist?’ That’s what I carry with me today.”

Raised in Karnei Shomron and educated in a Torah-based yeshiva, Yehuda credits his parents for instilling in him a deep sense of duty, identity, and love for Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.

On the day of his enlistment, his mother Smadar handed him a written blessing—one that moved thousands across the nation “Soon it will be a year since the fall of your father, Shaul הי״ד.
And before the year has even ended, you stand tall and proud, ready to give to the nation and the land that Abba was willing to fight for and give his life for...
Abba Shaul הי״ד is proud of you from above, watching over you and protecting you.”

Despite her own loss, Smadar supported Yehuda’s decision wholeheartedly. “Her strength gave me the courage to believe this is the right path,” he said.

The Moyal family’s story has become one of national resilience and unity. Following Shaul’s death, supporters launched a fund to help the family with future expenses, including upcoming weddings. Just recently, Shaul’s daughter Hanna was married. With her father no longer alive to walk her down the aisle, her mother Smadar stepped in carrying the torch of faith and strength once again.

As Yehuda dons his uniform, he doesn’t only carry a rifle he carries his father’s memory, his mother’s blessing, and the values that define the very soul of Israel.

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