The Himmelfarb School, founded more than a century ago, is one of the best-known “religious-Zionist” schools in Jerusalem. In other words, it’s what would be called in America a “religious public school.”

Until recently, outside of Jerusalem, and certainly outside of Israel, few people had heard of the school—after all, who knows the schools of a different city? The past year, however, has tragically brought the Himmelfarb School into the news in the most horrific of ways. Nine of its graduates have fallen since October 7—likely more than the losses of any other school in the country.

Most recently, Rabbi Avi Goldberg, z’l, a graduate of the school, a teacher there and the rabbi of the school, fell in Lebanon. His death was a chilling reminder of what it means for an army to be a “people’s army”—he left behind eight children, and hundreds of devoted students who loved him. The losses this country is experiencing are simply beyond comprehension.

A photograph of three of these boys, young men in 2023, circulated across Israeli social media early in the war.

This is a photograph of three of the boys around Bar Mitzvah age, in seventh grade. Aner Shapira, z’l (left, green shirt), displayed indescribable heroism as he tossed grenades back at Hamas terrorists, saving the lives of many in the small shelter they were sharing at the Nova festival, until a grenade finally killed him. That grenade also wounded Hersh Goldberg-Polin, z’l (right) who was kidnapped from the Nova to Gaza that day and was subsequently murdered. Ben Zussman, z’l (center) enlisted of his own accord, and fell in battle shortly later.

Three boys from one class, or even three boys from one school, would itself be hard to believe. But nine? It’s truly unfathomable.

The Himmelfarb school took a trip to Tel Aviv recently, and the day culminated with a concert by the Israeli reggae band, Hatikva 6. The band has been around for about 20 years, but gained fame outside of Israel this year for its song “A Nation of Superheroes.” (We showed a “remake” of the song for a kindergarten earlier in the year—see the second video down.)

Hatikva 6 sang the “A Nation of Superheroes” song at the concert, too, but only after Omri Glickman read out the chilling list you hear in the clip above.

Several people sent me the full clip, which quickly made its way around Israeli social media. I don’t know who filmed it … it appears to have been filmed on a phone.

In any event, the clip of the speech and the song speak for themselves. We’ve added subtitles for our readers and listeners.

With fervent prayers that that horrible list never grow longer. …

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The Himmelfarb School's chilling list