More than 1,000 students from the AMIT network took part in an annual run to keep the memory of Hadar Goldin, z”l, alive. Goldin, an alumnus of AMIT Gwen Straus Junior and Senior Science High School for Boys, was tragically killed in Gaza in 2014, during his army service, and his remains have yet to be returned to Israel for proper burial.
The race was launched four years ago by the students at the AMIT Mr. & Mrs. Lester Sutker Art and Sciences Junior and Senior High School for Boys in Modi’in. They wanted to raise awareness about Goldin and Oron Shaul, z”l, another soldier whose remains are being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Every year, hundreds of AMIT students from all across Israel take part, and this year was no different: Students from Beit Shemesh, Ashdod, Modi’in, Kiryat Malachi, Petach Tikvah, Ra’anana and Or Akiva hit the pavement to commemorate Goldin and Shaul, z”l.
The teams from the various schools ran between two and four kilometers, with Midreshet AMIT Modi’in coming in first place among girls’ schools and AMIT Modi’in boys’ school, Yeshivat AMIT Netivot and Yeshivat AMIT Netivot Dror taking the top spots among boys’ schools.
Simcha Goldin, Hadar’s father, said the race is a heartwarming initiative and said, “every runner reaches a breaking point, but we won’t stop running until we bring Hadar home.”
The commemoration was in keeping with the ideals of AMIT network, that is to care for each other, for their fellow and to do acts of kindness as they look out for Klal Yisrael.
Meanwhile, more than 100 demonstrators gathered at a junction near Ra’anana last week to call for the return of Goldin and Shaul, z”l, and Avera Mengistu, another Israeli who is missing in the Gaza Strip.
Goldin’s family attended the demonstration along with the mayors of Ra’anana and Kfar Sava and other lawmakers.
Leah Goldin, Hadar’s mother, said, “Operation Protective Edge isn’t over. The war continues because our sons haven’t been returned to us. We are here to persuade our leaders that it is their obligation to bring them home immediately.”
Rav Sagi Rosenbaum, the principal of AMIT Gwen Straus, said that Hadar, z”l, is remembered at the school every day. “We constantly live the painful reality that our sons haven’t been returned. We stand beside the families in their demand that the government brings them home.”
