The mother of a fallen Israeli Christian soldier has been horrified to discover that his grave had been covered with a black cloth, obscuring a cross on his tombstone, during a recent burial ceremony at the military cemetery in Haifa.
19-year-old Sergeant David Bogdanovsky was killed in Gaza last December and his mother Julia who regularly visits the cemetery was shocked by what confronted her recently as another fallen soldier was laid to rest next to her son’s grave, according to the nation’s most widely read newspaper Israel Hayom and Haifa News.
Julia posted on social media: “This is a message of sorrow, resentment, and profound disappointment. Today, as I do every day, I visited Davidushka to light a candle and spend time with him. I was horrified to find they had placed a black cloth over my David, my hero, a hero of the State of Israel, concealing his tombstone and the cross.”
“Words fail to express the humiliation I experienced. I always believed that my David, who sacrificed his life for this country, who loved it with every fibre of his being, who enlisted to protect me, his family, and all of us, was no different from other young men and certainly not a second-class citizen.”
“I stood there, weeping. I didn’t remove that black cloth out of respect for other parents’ feelings, understanding the pain that resides in the hearts of every mother, father, sister, and brother. I had no desire to turn the ceremony into a battleground.”
“I don’t interfere with the tombstones of other children, so who granted you the right to touch my precious son? I am devastated, I am in tears, I am crying out in anguish. This is not the Jewish people I came to love.”
The family of the soldier buried next to her son said: “We were deeply shocked to learn about this incident. We had no knowledge of the grave covering. We hold the utmost respect and honour for the memory of Sergeant David Bogdanovsky, who rests beside our son, and we share in the grief of his family and all families who have lost loved ones in defence of our country, regardless of their faith or community. Our hearts ache for the additional sorrow and pain inflicted upon his family.”
Knesset (parliament) member Meir Cohen called on Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the Ministry of Defense to address the issue: “This black cloth is a dark stain on Israeli society. IDF soldiers of all faiths fight side by side and, tragically, also fall together. I urge you to take immediate action, starting with a public apology and reaching out to the bereaved family.”
“It is imperative that we take decisive steps to safeguard the honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and protect the dignity of their families. I demand to know if the covering of David’s grave was sanctioned and whether similar incidents have occurred with other fallen soldiers’ graves,” the MK continued.
A group of activists called Group No. 1 in Likud chose not to stand by and held a respectful memorial ceremony for Sergeant Bogdanovsky to show that “remembrance and recognition cross the borders of religion and origin, and that every fallen soldier is respected by the people of Israel, without exception.”
Their ceremony included the recitation of the Kaddish and special prayers for all the fallen of the IDF, including a special prayer from the Psalms, which is also dedicated to non-Jews.
They said they wanted to honour David Bogdanovsky’s memory and send a clear message against any attempt to separate and discriminate. They wanted to make it clear that in the national memory, every fallen soldier is “part of the common Israeli mosaic.”
Tag Meir which is a coalition of organisations that work against hate crime and religious racism in Israel posted: “Tag Meir is ashamed by the desecration of Sergeant Major Bogdanovsky’s memory and honour. Those who dishonour the memory of a hero of Israel, who gave his life for the state, are deeply mistaken. This is a complete loss of values.”
The Christian Voice Association which supports Christian soldiers has reached out to Haifa’s mayor, advocating for the establishment of a memorial site dedicated to fallen soldiers from the Christian community.
The association’s leadership stated: “This incident, which reeks of racism and exclusion towards the Christian family and community, is utterly unacceptable and contradicts the values upheld by the IDF, the State of Israel, and Israeli society at large.”
Photo: Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
