Israel at War | Statement on the release of the body of the fallen hostage Staff Sergeant Itay Chen z”l
November 5th, 2025
אֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים שׁוֹכֵן בַּמְּרוֹמִים, הַמְצֵא מְנוּחָה נְכוֹנָה תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה, בְּמַעֲלוֹת קְדוֹשִׁים וּטְהוֹרִים, כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ מַזְהִירִים, לְנִשְׁמַת סָמָ"ר אִיתַי חֵן זַ"ל, שֶׁהָלַךְ לְעוֹלָמוֹ. אָנָּא בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים, הַסְתִּירֵהוּ בְּסֵתֶר כְּנָפֶיךָ לְעוֹלָמִים, וּצְרוֹר בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים אֶת נִשְׁמָתוֹ. יְיָ הוּא נַחֲלָתוֹ, וְיָנוּחַ בְּשָׁלוֹם עַל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ, וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.
“Exalted, compassionate God, grant perfect peace in Your sheltering presence, among the holy and the pure, whose radiance is like the heavens, to the soul of Staff Sergeant Itay Chen z”l, and who has gone to his eternal home. May his memory be a blessing, and may he rest in paradise. Master of mercy, may he find eternal shelter beneath Your sheltering wings, and may his soul be bound up in the bond of life. ADONAI is his portion. May he rest in peace. And let us say: Amen.” — El Maleh Rachamim
We are at a loss for words to express the immense pain and sorrow we are experiencing as the fallen hostage, Staff Sergeant Itay Chen z”l (19), was returned to Israel.
He was not just a name; he was a cherished individual, deeply loved by his family, with dreams and future stolen from him. We grieve not only for him, but for the other precious lives lost.
We will never forget. We will never forgive. Our hearts are shattered.
We hold both a sacred duty and a moral right to bring all of our sisters and brothers home. We continue to pray and advocate for the immediate release and return of the remaining 7 fallen hostages still in captivity.
Click below to download the Prayer for the Return of Fallen Hostages from Gaza from the Masorti Movement in Israel, Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, and the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel:
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