Orlan, Shmuel

Shmuel, son of Zehava and Yosef, was born on February 5, 1948, in Kadima and studied at the religious state school in Moshav Kadima. He completed his elementary studies at the “Yavneh” school in Netanya, and later joined the first graduating class of the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva in Netanya and graduated with high grades. Shmuel continued to study at the Hebron Yeshiva and two years later moved to the Kerem B’Yavneh yeshiva, where he received rabbinical ordination. His studies at the “Kerem B’Yavneh” yeshiva were part of the Hesder Yeshiva. In all of the educational institutions where Shmuel studied, he excelled with diligence and knowledge. He was always presented as an example to his friends and even graduates from him wanted to study with him. After completing his studies at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh, he moved to the “Kotel” yeshiva, where he organized a group for women judges. Shmuel was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of January 1968 and volunteered for the paratroop brigade. When he was transferred from the paratroopers to the Armored Corps, he complained that “this is not a combat force.” However, after completing his studies at the Armored Corps School, he admitted that “the armor is no less combatant than the paratroopers.” A few months before his fall, Shmuel wrote a Torah study, which was sent to the United States and earned him a high prize and a scholarship to continue his studies. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Shmuel was sent as part of an armored force to the northern front and in the battle that took place on October 7, 1973, his tank was hit and Shmuel was killed on the spot. He was 25 when he died. He was brought to eternal rest in the ancient cemetery on the Mount of Olives, in the Prophets section. After his fall, he was promoted to corporal. After his fall, the weekly “Blachtach Be-Derech” published by the “Kerem B’Yavneh” Yeshiva published an obituary in memory of Shmuel. Rabbi Shimon Gershon Rosenberg, who was himself in the same tank and was severely wounded, wrote about him: “The same opposites that we are torn into: Yeshiva and army, Torah and state – came to Shmuel safely and easily … Of Shmuel, with essays in appreciation of his memory and his innovations in the Torah that were found in his writings, was published by the “Kotel” Yeshiva.