A story from RAFAH - Israel is 78!

This Independence Day, I keep thinking about one moment I will never forget.

We were in Rafah.
Those were difficult days. Morale among the people was low, and we felt it in the field too. We wanted to do something people would talk about - something that would lift the spirits of the soldiers on the ground and remind the people of Israel what we are fighting for.

We brought a 9-meter flagpole and a 7-meter Israeli flag.
In the middle of the night, we climbed the tallest building in Rafah to raise it.

While we were working, the enemy identified us and opened fire. There was no option to turn back. The tanks with us were assigned to protect us, and we kept going.

For three hours, we worked under fire.

And then it happened.

The flag was raised.

It was so large that it could be seen from Rafah all the way to the Zeitoun neighborhood - several kilometers away.

The moment the flag went up, we sang Hatikvah, saluted the flag, and I stood there feeling it was one of the most emotional moments of my life.

The next day, news outlets published the flag and what we had done.

Maybe moments like that are why I created

ISRAELIHEROESART.COM -

to strengthen the communities that have given so much to that flag: IDF reservists, Nova survivors, and their families.

The road will not be easy, but I believe we can do good, bring hearts together around the world, and build something meaningful for these communities.

Happy Independence Day to our beloved country 🇮🇱
We will do everything for you - even when it is dangerous - and even then, only to raise your flag.

Matan