Ronen Lubarsky, a soldier in the elite Duvdevan unit, was murdered this past May 26 by a terrorist as Ronen was participating in an anti-terror operation. His family wanted to commemorate him in a way that would benefit Israel’s soldiers, especially those serving in the Ramallah area, as Ronen was.

On May 19, a Warm Corner for soldiers was dedicated in Psagot in a large ceremony that was well-attended by town residents and soldiers in the area. Also present were representatives of the sponsoring organization Yashar LaChayal, which has already constructed 11 additional Warm Corners throughout Israel. Funds for the project were raised by the East Brunswick Jewish Center, which has funded an additional two of Yashar LaChayal’s Warm Corners. Each one hosts patrolling soldiers for short breaks, and is stocked with food and drinks for the soldiers’ benefit.

At the ceremony in Psagot, an army band performed, activities were held for the town’s children, and speakers included town officials, one of Ronen’s friends from Duvdevan, a Yashar LaChayal representative, and Moti Yogev, a member of Knesset. Yashar LaChayal’s representative concluded her remarks by stating, “This is our 12th Warm Corner, and we have two more on the way… My message to our dear soldiers is that it is important for me to stress how much we appreciate all that you do, that there are many people, near and far, who are thinking about you, and that we will never, ever forget you!”

By Amichai Bacharach