IDF officer Eliav Chaim Tzaflamos z"l buried after Lebanon death

Thousands gathered Friday for the levaya of Seren Eliav Chaim Tzaflamos z"l, the officer who fell when a military vehicle overturned in southern Lebanon. Family members eulogized him at the funeral.

"My Eliav, where do I even begin? How can a mother eulogize her son?" said his mother, Chali. "Only in our country can this happen. It's incomprehensible. How can I stand here and speak about you in the past tense? You were always first. Always. The firstborn son, the first grandchild, the first to make us parents. The first to bring light, laughter and meaning to our home and to our lives."

She continued: "Eliav, send us strength because our family is shattered now. Send us strength to cope with this painful reality. We love you, forgive us. Watch over us."

Anbar Koren, Eliav's partner, spoke through tears: "How can anyone eulogize you? And what does this have to do with you, my beautiful one? Everything feels like a nightmare I'm just waiting to wake up from."

"I'm so angry, and at the same time so grateful," she added. "Thank you that I merited five years of infinite love, pure love in my heart and excitement every time you came home." Koren concluded: "You promised me you'd be careful, you promised you'd be home in a week. So where are you, my love? Where?"