Hundreds gathered Sunday night in Beitar Illit for an emotional ceremony dedicating a Torah scroll to the memory of Sergeant Uriel Peretz, a haredi combat soldier killed in Gaza. Peretz, a native of the city, fell in combat during ground operations in the Gaza Strip on Hanukkah two and a half years ago.
Uriel grew up and was educated in Beitar Illit, enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces, and served as a combat soldier in the Kfir Brigade. He was 22 when he fell. After his death, he was posthumously promoted from corporal to sergeant.
The Torah scroll dedication fulfilled a longtime dream for his family, who wanted to memorialize him in a spiritually and ethically meaningful way. For months they worked on the project, which culminated in an especially festive and elaborate event where the extensive effort and desire to continue Uriel’s legacy was felt in every detail.
Uriel is survived by his parents, Hanania and Esther, and his siblings Michael, Hodaya, and Rivka. The Torah scroll dedicated in his memory will now accompany the community and serve as a living memorial, connecting his life story, his courage, and the values he believed in.
