Staff Sergeant Sraya Elboim, of Blessed Memory
2003–2025 | 5763–5785
Sraya was born and raised in the agricultural village of Mehola, in the Jordan Valley.
As a child and adolescent, he was mischievous, joyful, and curious—an avid reader, a talented artist, a singer, and a lover of fun and silliness.
He was deeply principled, with a profound understanding of the meaning of life.
Sraya studied at the agricultural yeshiva "Regavim BaEmek," drawn by his strong connection to the land and his belief in the importance of working the soil.
In 12th grade, driven by a sense of mission, he decided to leave his studies at "Regavim BaEmek" and volunteer at the "Neve Ori" farm in Gush Etzion.
On the act of choosing, he once wrote:
"In life, you must always choose between two or more options. It’s important to stand behind your choice, because otherwise, it is as if you never truly chose."
At the farm, Sraya devoted himself to building the land and herding sheep.
He completed his matriculation exams independently and with great determination.
Afterwards, he continued to study at the Susiya Yeshiva, where he cultivated his connection to Torah as a way of life.
Sraya enlisted in the Golani Brigade, Battalion 51.
After completing basic training and serving briefly in the battalion, he advanced to a command role and attended a squad commanders’ course.
At the outset of the war, he was in the midst of this course. As part of his training, he fought in Gaza during the ground incursion for two months, until completing the course.
Before officially assuming his role as a squad commander, Sraya requested to rejoin his battalion and assist in defending the communities of the Ramim Ridge
:He wrote
"The mission: to defend the communities of the north
My personal goal, which I will strive to instill in my soldiers, is the understanding that even the smaller missions—those that don’t seem grand or dramatic—contribute in their own way to the achievement of the national objective. There is no scenario in which the residents of the north do not return to their homes."
Sraya served as a squad commander in the support platoon of Company B.
He and his comrades defended the communities of the Ramim Ridge for an extended period and later led the ground incursion into Lebanon with the Golani Brigade.
Sraya was a man of truth, radiating joy and light.
He loved his friends and family deeply and easily connected with everyone he met, thanks to his broad smile and generous heart.
He loved the Land of Israel and fought bravely for it.
During the battles in Gaza, he wrote:
"This is the stage of life when you are entirely devoted to giving, in the fullest and deepest sense of the word. One thing I know with absolute certainty: Redemption will never cease to come, and victory is ours."
Sraya fell in battle in Lebanon during the "Swords of Iron" War, on the 12th of Cheshvan, 5785 (2024).
He was 21 years old.
The path Sraya chose for his life was rich and diverse, weaving together multiple worlds.
This is how we wish to remember him: in the unique integration that characterized him so deeply—his love for the People of Israel, the Land of Israel, and the Torah of Israel.
Every part of this memorial project is inseparable from Sraya’s essence:
Love for the People of Israel – Establishing a Social Café-Bar in Mehola:
In collaboration with Sraya’s friends and the community of Mehola, we will establish a social café-bar that will serve as a meeting place for local residents and those from neighboring communities.
In line with Sraya’s character, it will be a place of connection, heart-to-heart encounters, singing, and joy.
Additionally, it will host gatherings for diverse communities and social dialogue panels.
The vision of the café-bar is to create an open and sincere space—just as Sraya did wherever he went, with joy, a wide smile, and boundless love.
As he wrote: "If we all approach each other with love, everything will be better."
Love for the Land of Israel – Establishing "Ohel Sraya" at Neve Ori Farm:
Sraya volunteered at the farm for about a year and longed to return whenever he had the chance.
The farm, located near Har Gilo, is run by the remarkable Tal family and hosts young men like Sraya who come to live and volunteer.
The tent ("Ohel Sraya") will serve as a hospitality center for farm visitors, volunteers, and the many soldiers serving in the area.
Love for the Torah of Israel – Writing a Torah Scroll:
Every resident of Mehola remembers Sraya dancing ecstatically during Simchat Torah, radiating happiness and vibrant energy.
He loved Torah learning and delving deeply into it, always in his unique way.
He connected to Torah through study with friends, learning with the village rabbi, reading books, and writing reflections in notebooks and journals.
All this stemmed from a deep and special bond that only someone like Sraya could nurture.
"One must understand that everything I do and act upon in the world is Torah study in the practical sense of life," he wrote.
Thus, with the blending of the soil of our land, spirit and courage, and true joy—we will remember and live by the path of our beloved Sraya.