Neighbors from Yishuv Ofra where slain hesder soldier Dvir (Yehuda) HY”D Sorek (שורק) lived state that he and his entire family are big lovers of Eretz Yisrael as well as others. They embrace the land and are always cordial to others, a well-known family in the Binyamin Council of Shomron where Ofra is located.

Dvir had traveled to Yerushalayim where he purchased seforim to give out to his rabbonim and close friends, a going away gift as he was preparing for his induction into the IDF. While officially classified as a soldier, the 19-year-old was completing his last months of limud Torah before entering the next phase of his hesder service, and he was nearing his months of army service, which are followed by additional years of limud Torah.

At the time of the attack he was not in uniform. He was returning from Jerusalem, heading to his yeshiva, Yeshivat Hesder Migdal Ohz, located in Kibbutz Migdal Ohz in Gush Etzion.

When he did not return to yeshiva on time, talmidim from yeshiva phoned his home, speaking with family members and explained he left yeshiva and they believed he was heading home. At 8:00PM, the parents were still unable to reach him and at that time they phoned military officials and the system was activated, beginning the search for the missing talmid/soldier. The body was found close to 3:00AM on the road between Efrat and Kibbutz Migdal Ohz, near the kibbutz, exhibiting signs of stab wounds, which officials quickly understood was the result of a terrorist attack, and most likely, a botched kidnapping.

The manhunt for the terrorist(s) is ongoing in addition to intelligence officials contacting their informants and using other means to apprehend the murderers.

Rav Shlomo Vilk, the Rosh Yeshiva, told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) in a Thursday morning interview that Dvir went to buy seforim for the rabbonim and others and he was on his way back when the attack occurred. “His body was found embracing the seforim” he added.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu released the following statement following the attack. “This morning we were informed about a harsh stabbing attack. The security forces are currently in pursuit to apprehend the abhorrent terrorist and bring him to justice.

On behalf of myself and the government, I send condolences to the family.”

With elections for the 22nd Knesset only a short time away, set for September 17, 2019, the entire political spectrum has commented on the heinous murder, with the opposition blaming the government and PM Netanyahu and the right-wing expressing outrage.

Funeral details to be published when released.

In the photo below, we see Dvir HY”D along with his family on Har Habayis.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)