Dr. Simcha Goldin, the father of IDF soldier Lt. Hadar Goldin HY”D, visited HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky on Tuesday, 27 Tammuz. Hadar was killed in fighting in the summer of 2014 along with Sgt. Oren Shaul HY”D in Operation Protective Edge. Hamas terrorists grabbed their bodies and refuse to return them, using the bodies as pawns in negotiations for the release of a large number of convicted terrorists imprisoned in Israel in return.

Simcha Goldin told Rav Kanievsky about the difficulties that his family has faced over these past four years and the efforts that they have made to try to get the body of their son back in order to arrange a proper burial for him in Israel.

Maran Rav Kanievsky heard his words, clearly pained by them, and expressing his hope that Hadar’s remains would be returned soon and merit a burial.

In response to Hadar’s question as to how much action should be taken and what the price is, Maran answered that it is certainly a very important matter to bring a Jew to kever Yisrael, and that great effort must be made, whether in tefilos or via other activities.

In the course of the meeting, Simcha Goldin presented the new book, “How to Build a Life – Chavrusa in Mesilas Yesharim with Hadar Goldin,” to Rav Chaim, published by the family with comments on the Mesilas Yesharim and containing a letter from Hadar. Rav Kanievsky reviewed the sefer for a period of time and expressed great satisfaction. He said, “You have done a good thing by publishing the sefer, and it will be a Zechus for him to merit the right to be buried in kever Yisrael in accordance with halacha”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)