He yelled, "SHMA YISRAEL" as he threw himself on the grenade to protect his fellow soldiers, before he died.I received this in my email, though I heard this story before. I thought I would share this with you. Please feel free to tell this story to others. We are forwarding this translation of a Hebrew e-mail at the
request of friends of the late Major Roi Klein:
On Major Roi Klein (zl)of blessed memory)
The little that we can do for somebody who sacrificed his life in
such a heroic way is to tell his story. It is not clear why the media
ignored this story. Maybe his altruistic behaviour is unpopular or
maybe it does not fit with the image of the suffering, sensitive and
fearful soldier that some Israeli media are trying to nurture.
Last week, Major Roi Klein (z"l), lieutenant commander of Regiment
51 in the Golani Brigade, from Eli was the highest-ranking officer
among his troops at the time in the Lebanese town of Bint AlJubeil. In
the midst of a battle he noticed that Hizballah terrorists have lobbed
a grenade thatlanded close to his soldiers. Since the detonation of
the grenade was imminent. He leaped and blocked most of the
fragmentation from the grenade with his body, thereby saving his
troops. His soldiers said that he cried "Shma Israel" when he jumped
to block the grenade.
Roi Klein was buried on the day of his 31st? birthday.
He was a gifted Saxophone player and a brilliant academic that
completed his engineering studies with high honours. He traveled with
friends in Africa and had a rolling laughter. All of his friends
describe him as a gentle and relaxed soul. His widow's wish is that his
children would resemble their father when they grow up.
May his memory be blessed. Please do a good deed in honor of this hero,
Major Roi Klein, and his family who survives him.