Israel Eliyahu Suisa

Israel Eliyahu Suisa was born in Montreal, Canada, on 27 August 2003, the son of Hava Farha and Moshe and one of eleven siblings. In July 2016, he immigrated to Israel with his family. After studying at Chabad institutions in Kiryat Shmuel, he continued at Levinson High School in Kiryat Yam. When his family returned to Canada, he chose to remain in Israel to fulfill his wish to serve as a combat soldier. During his service, he was a lone soldier and lived at Benji’s Home in Ra’anana alongside other lone soldiers.

His family described a young man who could find something positive even in hardship and bring a smile to those around him. His sister Haya Mushka Biton said that he rarely spoke in detail about the fighting but said he felt that what he was doing mattered. His sister Mazal remembered his courage, sensitivity and the good atmosphere he created. Alongside his close ties with family and friends, he enjoyed ice hockey and football, practiced calisthenics, played snooker with friends, played the piano and took part in Aharai activities in Kiryat Haim.

In December 2021, he enlisted in the IDF and volunteered for the Paratroopers. He served as a Negev light machine gunner in his unit and fought in the Gaza Strip during the war. Haipo described him as a combat soldier in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit who had returned for a break after an extended period of fighting. On 5 March 2024, while riding his motorcycle on Highway 4 between the Morasha interchange and Ra’anana, he was killed in a road accident. Izkor records that he fell during his service in the war.

Israel was twenty when he died. His parents and family members who were in Canada traveled to Israel to say goodbye. According to Haipo, some two thousand people attended his funeral at the military cemetery in Haifa, including residents, friends, commanders and combat soldiers from the brigade. He is survived by his parents and ten siblings. He is also commemorated at the Paratroopers Memorial near the Bilu junction. May his memory be a blessing.