Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Kalman Ber, warmly welcomed Yashar! party chairman and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot on Wednesday evening. The two met at an event marking the dedication of a memorial and study room commemorating Israel’s fallen soldiers.

Eisenkot, who lost his son in the war, attended the event and shook Rabbi Ber’s hand. The two spoke for several seconds, during which the Chief Rabbi was heard telling Eisenkot, “You are a source of inspiration."

Eisenkot is the father of Master Sgt. (res.) Gal Eisenkot, who was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip. Gal was 25 at the time of his death and served in the Maglan commando unit.

Gal was killed after the force he was serving with identified a shaft in an open area in southern Gaza. The force approached the site, and Gal was injured in an explosion. He was evacuated to Assuta Hospital in Ashdod, where he later succumbed to his injuries.