Roi Klein

Roi Klein (; ; July 10, 1975 – July 26, 2006) was an Israeli major in the Golani Brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces and one of its most highly decorated soldiers. He died during the 2006 Lebanon War, during the Battle of Bint Jbeil, after jumping on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers.

Early life Klein was born and raised in Ra'anana, Israel. His parents, Aharon and Shoshana Klein, were Holocaust survivors. His father's side originated from Germany and fled to Israel at the onset of World War II. Most of his mother's family was killed in the Holocaust.

Later life and military service Klein was drafted into the IDF in August 1994. He was accepted into the Paratroopers Brigade. During this time, the South Lebanon conflict was happening, with the IDF fighting Lebanese guerrillas in the Israeli security zone in southern Lebanon. To counter guerrilla attacks, the IDF set up the Egoz Reconnaissance Unit, an elite unit of the Golani Brigade, which was to conduct raids against guerrillas, and Roi's unit was among those selected to be its founding members. As a result, Klein became a member of the Golani Brigade, and would rise through its ranks. Klein served in the southern Lebanon security zone before being honorably discharged from the army in August 1998.

Death in action During the 2006 Lebanon War, Klein and his unit took part in the Battle of Bint Jbeil. During a Hezbollah ambush, a hand grenade was thrown over the wall that was between Hezbollah militants and Klein and his unit. Klein threw himself onto the live grenade and absorbed the force of the explosion with his body. The soldiers reported that Klein recited the Jewish prayer, Shema Yisrael, as he jumped on the grenade. After the grenade had exploded and critically wounded him, he reported his own death, yelling "Klein's dead, Klein's dead" over the radio. In the following minutes, as he lay dying, he ordered soldiers who came to administer first aid and evacuate him to focus on Lieutenant Amichai Merhavia, another soldier who had been hit (and later also died) instead. He then handed over his encoded radio to another officer, who took command of the force, and died.

Legacy Roi Klein became a symbol of heroism in Israel. New schools in Netanya and Raanana have been named after him. Institutions named after Klein exist throughout Israel, and Torah scrolls were written in his honor. The Senior Class 2006 from Leon Pinelo Jewish High School in Lima, Perú, have been named after him.

For his actions during the war, Klein received the Medal of Courage posthumously.

Klein's home was among twelve homes that were subject to a petition by the Israeli group Peace Now demanding they be demolished, claiming they were built on private Palestinian land. and they were later regulated by Israel. Eventually, one home was demolished in 2015. The Israeli Ministry of Defense said that any claimants would be given financial compensation if they could prove that they were the original owners of the land.

In 2016, Klein's widow Sarah married Rabbi , who had been one of Klein's teachers.