Yosef, a member of a chareidi infantry battalion in the IDF, was waiting with three other people at a pick up stop when two terrorists drove up to them and shot them at close range. Yosef and another soldier were killed on the spot. Another soldier and a civilian were seriously wounded.
Yosef leaves behind a mother and step-father, 10 brothers and sisters, and 11 step-brothers and -sisters.
At his funeral, thousands of people came to show their respects for the soldier who risked his life for his country, many of them chareidim wearing uniforms from the Nahal Brigades in which he served.
Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav delivered the eulogy. “You were righteous. I didn’t want to believe it. You were all heart, completely pure, a holy and wonderful boy.
“Sweet Yossi, righteous, holy Yossi, may he rest in peace, said ‘I thank God for the merit He has given me to defend the Jewish people with my body,’” he continued. “Those were the last words he said here in our house,” he said tearfully. “What a soul he was. That was the essence of the child.”