Naming the Unknown Soldiers

It was in this area that the ill-fated Convoy of 35 traversed the plain, bringing desperately needed medical care and weapons to the beleaguered defenders of Gush Etzion on the night of January 15-16, 1948. The 35 fighters from the Palmach and other groups navigated the rough terrain on foot, trying to reach the outermost settlements by daybreak. Due to the 26-kilometer hike, starting out behind schedule, and being overloaded with gear, they were still in the open at sunrise. When they were spotted by local Arab fighters, a gun battle ensued, and by 4:30 p.m., all 35 had been killed.

The British police chief of Chevron, Hamish Dougan, arrived at the scene and arranged for evacuation and temporary burial of the bodies in nearby Kfar Etzion. When hostilities subsided in the summer of 1949, Rabbi Shlomo Goren arranged for the reburial of all soldiers who had fallen behind enemy lines. The bodies of the Convoy of 35 were brought to Jerusalem and reburied in a solemn ceremony at the Mount Herzl military cemetery.

Twenty-three of the bodies were positively identified. The other 12 remained unknown. There were no means of ascertaining their identities — no dental records, personal items, or bodily characteristics. In desperation, bereaved parents turned to Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank, the foremost halachic authority of Jerusalem. He gave an astonishing bit of advice, directing them to Rav Aryeh Levin, the “Tzaddik of Yerushalayim,” to identify the bodies by use of a Kabbalistic procedure known as the Goral HaGra.

Rav Aryeh was reluctant, deeming himself unworthy of engaging in this hallowed task. But Rav Tzvi Pesach implored him, and Rav Aryeh finally acceded.