Israel’s new Mossad director, Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, made one of his first public stops at the Western Wall, and the message he left there was short, ancient and unmistakably Israeli.

Gofman prayed at the Kotel with Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, asking for success in his new role and for the protection of the State of Israel, IDF soldiers and Israel’s security forces. Before leaving, he placed a personal note between the stones, then signed the Western Wall Heritage Foundation guestbook with a line from I Samuel 15:29: “Netzach Yisrael lo yeshaker” — “The Strength of Israel will not lie.”

The timing made the moment heavier. Gofman has just taken command of the Mossad, becoming Israel’s 14th spy chief after replacing David Barnea, who led the agency through some of the most sensitive years in Israel’s modern security history. Gofman enters the post after serving as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military secretary and after a long IDF career, including a direct role in responding to the Hamas-led October 7 massacre.

His first message as Mossad chief was not a speech, threat or policy paper. It was a verse. At the Wall, where Israeli leaders often come before moments of national weight, Gofman chose words that speak to endurance, resolve and the belief that Israel’s story is not dictated by its enemies.

For a man now entrusted with Israel’s most secret war against Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and other threats, the message was brief. But it said plenty.