Since the war began, comedian and social activist Hanoch Daum has received a stream of messages—from heartbreaking accounts to moments of hope and connection. On Wednesday night, he shared one that stood out: a touching note from a reservist, celebrating what he called “unity on the ground.”
“Unity on the Ground”
“Hanoch—on the surface, it’s just another wedding,” wrote the reservist. “But this one was different. Two courageous fighters from the Alexandroni Brigade. 300 days of reserve duty. Metula, Gaza, Lebanon. One is secular. The other just finished exams to become a dayan (religious court judge). It only made sense,” he continued, “that the groom asked his friend to officiate the ceremony. This is the kind of unity we experience in the field.”
Daum replied: “Mazal tov, sweethearts. Through unconditional love, we will prevail.”
The Alexandroni Brigade in the Swords of Iron War
The Alexandroni Brigade was first called up on Simchat Torah, October 7, to defend Israel’s northern border. Troops reached the front within about 12 hours and played a vital role in northern defense for over four months—striking terror infrastructure and eliminating numerous enemy combatants. During these operations, Sargent First Class Omer Balva was killed by an anti-tank missile.
In June 2024, the brigade was redeployed—this time to the Gaza Strip—where it secured the central Netzarim Corridor. On June 20, during a Hamas mortar attack from the Zaytun neighborhood in Gaza City, two soldiers—Sargent First Class Saadia Yaakov Dery z”l and Sargent First Class Omer Smadja z”l—were killed.
By early October 2024, the brigade returned once more to the northern front. On October 7, they began operations in southern Lebanon, targeting the villages of Meiss El-Jabal and Houla. There, they dismantled terror infrastructure and neutralized enemy forces—becoming the first unit to reach the Litani River.
