Photo Credit: Haim Zach / GPO
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with orphans of Israeli soldiers. April 19, 2015.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with children of soldiers who died during their service in the Israel Defense Forces on Sunday evening, April 19.

The children, members of the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization, came to the Prime Minister’s office and told him about their memories of their parents.

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The children are between the ages of eight and 16 years old. Their parents died when they were between 25 and 46 years old. The familes came from cities including Hod Hasharon, Eli, Hadera, Modi’in and Netivot.

The father of Shira Alkalai, 14 years old, Israel Prison Service Guard Rafael Alkalai, died during the 2010 Carmel fire, while trying to save prisoners, leaving behind a wife and four children, including Shira.

The IDFWO provides support and enrichment to the surviving family members of those who fell while serving their country. That support includes school supplies for first graders, bar and bat mitzvah celebrations, weekend retreats and summer camps, scholarships, wedding presents and enrichment classes.

When the meeting was over, the Prime Minister invited the children to tour his office.

The event took place during the lead up to Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, which takes place later this week.

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Lori Lowenthal Marcus is a contributor to the JewishPress.com. A graduate of Harvard Law School, she previously practiced First Amendment law and taught in Philadelphia-area graduate and law schools. You can reach her by email: [email protected]