Zagron, Matan

Ben-Varda and Binyamin. He was born on 14 October 1980 in Moshav Tekuma in the south, and his parents wished to thank God for the precious gift they received when the son was born. Matan was a healthy, beautiful and active child, who spread smiles in all directions. A third child in the family, a younger brother to Edith and Yasmin. When Matan grew up, he became a curious and playful child, who loved to dismantle, assemble and repair various games and objects. He played a lot with screws, nails and tools, but his favorite game was the Leggo, and he spent many hours assembling and designing exhibitions. With his fingers and technical ability, he could dismantle and assemble any complicated part with ease and speed, and then his hobby was very useful. At the elementary school in Kibbutz Sa’ad, where he was educated, Matan was admired by his friends and teachers alike. He was able to combine the study of holiness and sand with great success. At the age of nine, the family moved to the settlement of Itamar. Matan began studying at the elementary school in Elon Moreh and acquired new friends. Already as a young boy, he enjoyed the love of the people and the land: he was proud to read the parable of Lech Lecha, which suited his worldview. Matan accepted the yoke of mitzvot with joy, and made sure to put on tefillin every morning. Matan began his high school studies at the Kfar Avraham Technological Yeshiva in Petah Tikva. A year later, he decided to move to Yeshivat Arutzim in Ithamar, because he preferred to combine Torah studies with studies of love of the country. In this framework he studied navigating, diving and rappelling, and went on a lot of hiking around the country. After completing high school, he chose to join the Hamdat preparatory program in the Jordan Valley, out of a need to help strengthen the area. Where he expanded his knowledge of Torah and halakha, and at the same time went to work at the terror victims’ headquarters in Jerusalem. During this period, the idealistic youth joined the Moledet movement. Rehavam Ze’evi’s legacy was a guiding light for Matan, and he participated in conferences, went on a trip to Israel and was the coordinator of “Homeland Youth” in Samaria. Matan won a personal connection with Gandhi himself, who gave him the nickname ‘Man from the Mountains’. Through his activity in the movement, Matan met many boys and girls, including his girlfriend, Salome. In August 1999 Matan joined the Paratroopers Brigade. He completed his basic training with great enthusiasm, and the moving ceremony at the Wailing Wall brought many of his friends to the settlement and to the movement, with blessings and balloons. Following the chain of terror attacks on the settlement of Itamar, he hung David’s lament on Jonathan on the coffin in his room. Matan finished the course of the squad commanders, returned to Battalion 890, and from there went on to the officers’ course. At Bahad 1, with great pride, he wrote on his title page the words “Blessed be the Lord Tzuri, who teaches my hand to bring my fingers to war” (Tehillim 844), who expressed most of all the tremendous motivation to defend the homeland, which was imbued with it. He used to lecture his fellow cadets about the love of the land, and in order to illustrate the extent of his love he would add to the coffee that drank grains of sand from the land of the Holy Land. Matan successfully completed his officers’ course, becoming the first officer of Itamar and the pride of the Yishuv. At the end of the course, the team intended to leave Matan for guidance, but he insisted on reaching a field unit, and was assigned to the position of platoon commander in the Nachshon Battalion of the Judea and Samaria Division. As a commander, he was very concerned about his subordinates, and always made sure to push them forward, to encourage and encourage them. Matan was an excellent sniper, and under his command his platoon won the IDF Shooting Championship, and behind the wide smile and the outstretched hand was a warm, warm-hearted man who was always raised to volunteerAnd even when Matan came home on vacation, after a busy week in the army, he made sure to help secure the settlement or replace the security coordinator in his position. For the rest of his time he would sit with a sewing machine and “refract” equipment for his subordinates and his fellow fighters. In July 2002, the provision of permanent army service in the unit began. He wanted to save his sister’s driving lessons. He began to plan his life after his military service, and dreamed of returning to his settlement, developing it and working the land of Israel. Matan fell on Sunday, October 27, 2002, while fighting a suicide bomber. At midday, he arrived at the Ariel gas station, a meeting place for many soldiers before leaving for duty. A terrorist appeared carrying an explosive belt. With his characteristic determination, Matan rushed with other soldiers to attack the terrorist and to fight him, when suddenly the explosive detonated with great force. Lieutenant Matan Zagron, Major Tamir Masad and Head of Staff Amihud Hasid were killed in the explosion, which prevented a much more serious attack. Before he died, Matan wrote: “To die in operational action when you go to arrest a suicide is honor, and I do not mean honor – you are respected, but you die with purpose, the purpose of a fighter who fell in the defense of the homeland. Ready to die now if I knew that after my death the people would live here more properly, stronger and stronger. ” Matan was brought to eternal rest in the military section of the cemetery in Itamar. He was followed by his parents, three sisters – Idit, Yasmin and Chaya, and another – Aviel. He was twenty-two years old when he fell. After his death he was promoted to lieutenant. In the days of the shiva, Matan received an envelope in the mail, in which he received a receipt from the Chasdei Naomi organization, which took care of families in distress. His family and friends realized that Matan also contributed secretly, without anyone noticing or appreciating it. It was like this: as he knew how to give of himself openly-so much in tacit action. The rabbi of the settlement of Itamar, Rabbi Natan Chai, who was well acquainted with Matan, wrote to the Zagron family about this noble trait: “It is written in the parables,” Secret Charity will force no one. ” On the volunteer spirit and the giving of Colonel Uzi, an officer of the Operations Branch of the Central Command: “In running to the spot where the terrorist was identified, Matan proved his courage, his determination and his striving for contact, and acted in accordance with the spirit of the IDF. Lieutenant Matan Zagron insisted on returning from the officers’ school to the unit in the fighting, and arrived at the Nachshon Battalion as a platoon commander. In this capacity he was characterized by his aspiration for excellence, his meticulousness, his high values ​​and his volunteer spirit. This spirit of volunteerism proved not only in his life, but also in his death, when he attacked a suicide bomber and threw his life away to save others. Oz Rojo will serve as an example to emulate his soldiers in the unit and all IDF commanders. ” Lt. Col. Tzvika, commander of the unit where Matan served, wrote: “Matan, in his capacity as platoon commander in the Nachshon Battalion, was characterized by his aspiration for excellence, his meticulousness, his high values ​​and his volunteer spirit. Thanks to his great investment and devotion, the department achieved impressive achievements and even won two IDF sniping competitions, but many did not know about it because Matan believed in doing hard work and attaining achievements. “The heroism, the initiative, the striving for touch, and the responsibility he has discovered serve as an example to emulate … Matan’s memory and deeds will serve as a symbol and example for soldiers of the battalion and will never be forgotten.” Rabbi Avi Ronsky, the head of the high yeshiva in the settlement of Itamar, wrote: “Your letters, including the expression of your heart’s wishes, give everything even to the livingFor the sake of the people of Israel, not to die just for that, but for the homeland – these words faithfully expressed your great spirit hidden in the simplicity of your life … Matan, you were strong and knew your purpose in life. Rabbi Yonatan Mali wrote to the family: “Matan ascended into the heavens in an effort to preserve the life of the people he loved. “After Matan’s death, a tree was planted in his memory in the forest of the fallen, on Mount Eitan in the outskirts of Jerusalem, and on the hill of Ammunition, his name was written as a member of the paratroopers’ family. His comrades in the Nachshon Battalion set up a memorial corner to commemorate his skills in perfecting the equipment. In the month of Kislev 5764, his parents set up a memorial to the fallen at the site of the attack in Ariel and engraved on the stone, “The Lord will give his people peace.” Matan’s family published a pamphlet entitled “Secret and Secret Charity.”