Bravery Amidst Battle: Remembering Shoval Ben Natan

For decades, Rebbetzin Ruth Benjamin has dedicated her life to elevating the mitzvah of purity, guiding brides, and training instructors across the country. Her efforts even span globally, strengthening the mitzvot of purity. Yet, nothing prepared her for the day when this mission would also honor the memory of her grandson, Shoval Ben Natan.

"Shoval was my eldest grandchild," she shares. "When the war broke out, he joined the Carmeli Brigade. They fought in Gaza and later moved to Lebanon, where he battled valiantly until sacrificing his life in sanctification of Hashem's name, alongside three other brave soldiers."

This week, Rebbetzin Benjamin was chosen to inaugurate an exhibition at the Shelter Gallery. "We witness the rise of royalty in this war," she told the women present. "The courage of women, daughters, sisters, and grandmothers who speak the language of redemption. We all play such a significant role in strengthening the family. On this evening of bravery and comfort, we gain strength from Hashem, enabling us to act despite the overwhelming yearning and sorrow."

A Child of Sweetness, Purity, Truth, and Mischievousness

Tell us about Shoval

"Shoval was the son of wonderful parents, my daughter Shlomit and her husband Rabbi David Tuvia Ben Natan, and brother to six siblings, thank Hashem. As a child, they lived in Yitzhar, but later moved to Rachelim when my son-in-law established the 'Pri Haaretz' yeshiva there. Shoval was a particularly sweet boy, both outwardly and inwardly. He had an uncompromising internal integrity; if he believed in doing something, he pursued it to the end, no matter the effort involved.

"One of his friends told us that during the war he called him once, saying he was at the grave of Rashbi praying for the captives' release and the soldiers' safe return. Shoval asked: 'Did you pray for the main missing one?' When his friend didn’t understand and asked 'Who?', Shoval simply replied, 'The Messiah.' It was so clear and obvious to him, as though living it in every prayer.

"Nearly a year ago, terrorists threw stones at him, his father, and brother while they were hiking near the settlement of Rachelim. Shoval handled the situation with responsibility and self-defense. Consequently, he was arrested and investigated as if he was the culprit, not the attackers. Later, when he wanted to enlist during a wartime period, obstacles were put in his way due to that incident. But he couldn't imagine giving up fighting for the people of Israel. He persisted, refusing to give up, and eventually got approval to enlist and fought out of a great sense of mission. Along with his platoon, he fought in Gaza for several months, and every time he shared his stories, it was clear he was driven by the goal to succeed for Hashem and Israel.

"On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, during a rare break, Shoval was torn. He wanted to travel to Uman but feared the ground forces would enter Lebanon right then and call him back to fight. Which is exactly what happened. In the end, he traveled to Uman and was called back with an emergency draft notice while there. Shoval moved mountains to return on the first possible flight after the New Year to join the training."

Rebbetzin Benjamin recounts stories she heard: Shoval and his fellow soldiers captured the strategic site called Jabal Balat, where they found alarming quantities of rocket launchers aimed at Safed, Shlomi, and Karmiel, as well as an armament stockpile so vast that 11 trucks were needed to transport it all. "Within three hours, they conquered the area without any of our forces being hurt, and began clearing it. They swept the area three times to ensure no terrorists remained, until Shoval noticed a hidden pit among dense vegetation. He managed to alert, saying 'I found a pit' before a powerful explosive was triggered on him and Aviyad Neiman. Terrorists hiding in the pit threw grenades, killing two more heroic soldiers z"l. They essentially protected the forces behind them, who were spared by divine grace."

The Rebbetzin emphasizes, "Shoval fought for the redemption of the people of Israel, for the honor of Hashem and Israel, with a clear belief that this is what the Creator of the Universe demanded from him. He did everything to the best and fullest. Even for the last battle of his life, he went after praying Musaf and Hoshanot, fervently shaking willow branches with his friends in the thicket, with joy and a sense of mission."

Even Better

When did you last speak with Shoval?

"I spoke with him personally on the eve of Rosh Hashanah when he was in Uman. He asked for a blessing and blessed us too."

Rebbetzin pauses, her voice trembling. "As a grandmother, it's challenging to reconcile the absolute certainty that he is in the highest, most exalted place with the immense void he left behind, the unbearable longing and large gap."

What truly gives you the strength to continue?

"We are believers, the children of believers, and we are sure that things will get better and better. We just pray to witness it soon, that redemption will come in grace and mercy, and that we will be partners in it."

Have you thought about how to memorialize him?

"Various actions have been taken to commemorate him. Among others, a vineyard was planted in his memory on the land of Israel he loved so much, stickers were spread even reaching Uman, and thousands of copies of 'The General Remedy' were distributed in his memory. It particularly moves me that soldiers in every location are making ritual baths kosher in IDF bases in his memory, including digging water pits in Lebanon, since he used to frequently immerse and purify. Whoever remembers his bravery and amplifies purity among Israel by any means does a great thing of eternal value."