A stunning nineteen-year-old young woman from the central region of Israel, Hadar Cohen’s possessed a passion to serve her country that drove her to enlist in the toughest unit of the Israeli army – the Border Police – actually, counter-terrorism.
Two months after her enlistment, Hadar Cohen was sent on her first assignment outside Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate. Along with Ravit Mirilashvili, and other Border Police Officers, their task was to defend the capital. When Ravit asked three suspicious Arabs for their identity papers, one stabbed him. Cohen swiftly overpowered and shot the attacker while being shot in the head by a second terrorist. She managed to return fire even though she was critically wounded. She died en route to the hospital.
Hundreds attended her funeral in Yehud where her father, Ofer, recited Kaddish before eulogizing her: “My beloved Hadar, my dear daughter…who was more beloved to me than anything. How am I supposed to separate from you now, how?”
With grief choking his voice, he continued, “Everyone says you were a hero, a true hero, that you saved lots of people with your body and soul. But no one truly knows you my Hadar, your warmth. I have three words (in Hebrew – ed.) to tell you: I’m proud of you. I’m proud of you and salute you. Rest in peace, may your soul be entwined in life.” He then raised his hand to his forehead and saluted his daughter.
Two couples from different parts of the country decided to name their newborn daughters in honor of Hadar Cohen.
Guetta from Neve Daniel came into the world on Tuesday night, just hours before the attack. “She was born a month early in an emergency surgery, we were really not prepared for it,” said mother Shaked, 26, of her firstborn baby.
“At first, we thought of giving her a name that relates to Purim, but then, after the attack, my husband told me the story of Hadar Cohen and suggested naming our daughter after her. He said he was hurting that a girl was murdered, and he thought it was the right thing to do. So we decided to commemorate Hadar’s courage and heroism.”
Aryeh Arbus, who resides in Elon Moreh with his wife Ruhama, wrote on his Facebook page: “Hadar, after we heard about your actions we found a source of light,” wrote Aryeh, “Few women have been privileged to participate in saving Israel as much as you were, with strength and splendor. The spot of your fall, facing the gates of Jerusalem, increased our admiration.”
Hadar Cohen’s name lives on.