From chupah to Gaza battle: ‘Cast Lead’ triumph in Woodmere

Five years have passed since Operation Cast Lead was launched to suppress terrorist rocket fire from Gaza into Israel, five years since paratroop commander and young chatan (groom) Aharon Karov was severely injured and Jews the world over prayed for his survival.

Karov stood before a packed room at the Young Israel of Woodmere on Saturday night, speaking in Hebrew about the many operations, rehabilitation, hard work and prayer that brought him there. He also spoke at HALB’s DRS high school in Woodmere, Rambam Mesivta in Lawrence, Congregation Shaarey Tefilah in Lawrence, and Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst during his visit to New York.

He now works as a role model and educator, promoting Jewish unity and identity in high schools, colleges and military bases throughout Israel. He runs Shabbatons as director of IDF special programs for Panim el Panim (PLP), an organization established in Israel in 2005 to spread Jewish religion, heritage and identity among secular Israelis.

Karov, 28, was born in Karnei Shomron to Rabbi Zev and Chaya Karov; he has five siblings. He studied in his father’s yeshiva, Yeshivat Halichot Olam high school, and after two years at the Yeshivot of Netzarim and Karnei Shomron, joined the 890 division of paratroopers.

He married Tzvia Mordechai of Kedumim as Israel readied to send troops, including Karov’s division, into Gaza during Operation Cast Lead to halt the incessant terrorist rocket attacks raining into Israel. They married on Thursday and his commander called him Friday morning and asked if he was coming to fight. He said this was the hardest decision. He was not obligated to join — a just married man is permitted a 10 day leave, but he commanded 30 soldiers and with the agreement of his new wife he returned to command his men.

A week later he and his men were to clear six houses in Gaza. They split up and Karov led three other soldiers into one of the homes. It was booby trapped; the room exploded. Karov was thrown towards the stairs and the building collapsed onto him. He was severely injured and at first they thought he was dead; when they saw he was alive, he was placed aboard a helicopter where a medic performed a tracheotomy in flight.