"I Miss Him So Much": The Heartbreaking Story of Fallen Haredi Soldier Moshe Noll HYD
In a moving Memorial Day ceremony in Beit Shemesh, the parents of Staff Sgt. Moshe Shmuel Noll, Hy"d, shared the story of his life, from his personal struggles with learning disabilities to his ultimate sacrifice in Gaza.
Large crowds from the Beit Shemesh community gathered on Monday night for a Haredi ceremony marking Memorial Day for Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror. Now in its third year, the event aims to express solidarity with the wider Jewish people and participate in the heavy national mourning of this holy day.
During the evening, a stirring conversation with the parents of Staff Sgt. Moshe Shmuel Noll, Hy"d, was screened for participants. Moshe, a resident of Beit Shemesh, fell nine months ago in Gaza at the age of 21.
Moshe was one of five soldiers from the Netzach Yehuda (Haredi) Battalion who were killed by a large explosive device in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza. The incident also left 14 other soldiers wounded.
A Lifelong Fighter
"Moishe was a fighter throughout his entire life," his mother, Mrs. Miriam Nell, told the audience. She described a boy who faced significant challenges from birth, including severe learning disabilities, but refused to give up. "He discovered what he could excel at and focused on that," she said.
His father, R' David Nell, recalled his son's sharp mind despite his struggles with dyslexia and reading: "He was a very positive person... and a wonderful brother to his siblings."
The Knock on the Door
R' David recounted the horrific moment every military parent fears, the knock on the door in the middle of the night. "I was sleeping. At 3:00 AM, there was a very, very loud knock. I got up with no expectation of what it was about... I opened the door and saw three soldiers in uniform and a woman. The only words I said were, 'Oh no.'"
He then went to wake his wife. Miriam shared that she had spoken to Moshe on the phone just hours before he fell. "I knew Moishe was okay because I had talked to him," she said, describing the total shock of the news. "That was the biggest blow."
Faith Amidst Grief
Through the tears, the family spoke of their unwavering faith. "I miss him so much," the father said, his voice breaking with longing.
Miriam concluded with a message of spiritual strength: "It is clear that if it was his time to go, I don't think there is a better way to go [than for the sake of the nation]."
May the memory of Staff Sgt. Moshe Shmuel Nell be a blessing.