Rivlin comforts fallen Duvdevan soldier’s family
President Rivlin visits family of Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky, killed when Palestinian dropped a marble slab on him near Ramallah; family tells president about son's patriotism; Rivlin to mother: 'Your strength radiates to whole nation.'
President Reuven Rivlin paid a consolation call Wednesday to the family of Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky, the Duvdevan soldier who was killed over the weekend when a marble slab was thrown at him by a Palestinian in the al-Am’ari Refugee Camp near Ramallah.
The president gave a warm hug to the parents and brother of the fallen soldier and expressed sincere sorrow for their loss, telling them he heard much about Ronen and about his character.
“We prayed so hard for a miracle and we are so pained (at the outcome). He served in a glorious unit with a wonderful family,” Rivlin told them.
Ronen’s family told the president about his deep patriotism and how the first thing people saw when they entered his room was the Israeli flag on the wall.
The president spoke about how as a child, when the state was first established, he was lucky to see the first time the flag was raised, and he understood it could not be taken for granted and that Ronen’s love of Israel stood out in all the stories about him.
“Ronen wanted to remain in the unit for as long as possible. I did not know to what extent until I got to know his comrades during the Shiva (Jewish mourning period),” said his brother Aryeh. “He shone when he was with them, and that was all that was important to him.”
His mother Elena said that when she heard how much people were praying for her son to recover when he was battling for his life, she said to herself: “The whole nation is praying, surely the prayers will be answered, but it seems that was not to be. We were so overwhelmed by the giant embrace from the nation, and we are very thankful. Without it, I do not know how I would be able to go on, it really gives me strength, and I feel so much stronger due to it.”
Rivlin told the mother: “ The strength you radiate strengthens the whole nation.”
