I write these words as I return home from Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery, where I was fortunate to participate in the

We continue in Yehuda's footsteps.

funeral of Yehonatan Netanel who was killed last night -10th of Tevet - in Gaza. Yoni was an Outstanding Soldier, an officer in the renowned red bereted Paratroopers Brigade. He was survived by his parents and siblings, his young wife Tziona and their three-month-old baby girl, Maayan.

Next to him, Nitai Stern was already buried, and behind him, Dr. Dagan Vertman and Dvir Emanuelof were buried three nights previously. The cream of religious Zionism, the kippot s'rugot way of life - total devotion until the end.

Whilst waiting to get to his grave, which was impossible, I realized I was standing next to the grave of Emmanuel Moreno, who was the last soldier killed in the recent Lebanon War. He is a hero for all times, whose picture, for the first time in modern Jewish history, is still classified as Top Secret. And next to him was Uri Grossman, who, together with the famous Benaya Rhein, tried to provide some sense of organization and control during the chaos of the Lebanon War with their non-stop, innovative rescue operations.

Friends, you should only realize that in such a small area in the Mt. Herzl Cemetery one can feel the power of mutual responsibility, of bravery and total devotion. The current war began on Chanukah, with today's Maccabees, the IDF, and with the same cry of Matityahu: "Those who seek HaShem, come to me!"

The Biblical Yehuda was chosen by his father Yaakov to set up the first yeshivas and ulpanas, the first address for Torah learning in the Exile, because, according to Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Neriya, z.l., he displayed and imbued in others the sense of mutual responsibility in the case of his brother Binyamin (Genesis 43:9). We continue in Yehuda's footsteps, as do all Jews, by displaying our devotion and commitment in fulfilling the way of life of encapsulated in the phrase, "All of [the people of] Israel are mutually responsible for one another."

When Israel is at war, we are all at war.

In fact, when Israel is at war, we are all at war. When an Israeli soldier goes into battle, he is fighting for all Jews. The war of the south is part of an ongoing war for Israel, for Jerusalem, for Judaism and for belief in HaShem. All Jews are soldiers, whether in combat gear on the Gaza front lines or in our prayers, deeds and way of life as truly committed Jews. We're all one; we're in this together, forever.

When Yoni Netanel would shout out the age-old battle cry, "Follow me!" he knew that he was charging head on into the enemy with the whole of Israel behind him; physically, in Gaza (b'aza), but spiritually, with the power (b'oz) of HaShem.

Tonight this exemplary commander was buried on Mt. Herzl, but the power of mutual responsibility will live on in Israel forever, thanks to him and thanks to every one of us, whether in Israel or in the Diaspora.