WAYNE COUNTY, Pa. — As fighting continues in the Middle East, a camp in Wayne County is mourning the loss of two of their own who died in battle.
Hallel Saadon and Yosef Guedalia died fighting with the Israeli army, and both spent time at Camp Moshava near Honesdale.
Newswatch 16 spoke with camp director Alan Silverman, who is currently in Israel. He says Saadon's family had a strong connection with the camp, and he attended as a camper.
Saadon was fighting Hamas forces during the first days of the attack, when he was killed.
"They overran the place where they were; the stronghold was in their place at the fence, and I think there were nine of them in that building. Three were killed right away, and he was one of them," Silverman said.
Guedalia was a camp counselor in 2019 and met his wife at camp. They were married less than a year before he died.
"He was battling terrorists, and they had to jump out of their jeep because they shot a rocket at it, and when he jumped out, he then was shot and killed."
Silverman says seeing what's happening in Israel has been horrific. He lives here in Pennsylvania half of the year, the other half in Israel with his family. Knowing these two men lost their lives serving their country hits home for Silverman. Three of his children currently serve in the Israeli military.
"It's extremely stressful and difficult. On the other hand, that is the job of an army. The army is to protect its citizens and protect its country."
Silverman says the Camp Moshava family is feeling the pain from this loss but are trying to give back to those fighting any way they can with the support from the community in Wayne County.
"This outpouring of love is really something very, very tremendous, and as well as the support the people, even one of my caretakers, they made a donation."
