Remembering Major Chen Buchris, Deputy Commander of the Maglan Unit

By Avi, Federation Shaliach

Credit: Times of Israel

Major Chen Buchris, Deputy Commander of the Maglan Unit, was a brave and stoic warrior and leader. He dedicated his entire being to the army, and in his rare free time, he would return to his parents’ home in Ashdod. There, he trained, played guitar, and studied Mesillat Yesharim (The Path of the Just—a Jewish text on mannerisms).

Chen fell on the cursed October 7th Sabbath, during a charge he led in the battle to clear Nahal Oz of the accursed terrorists who had taken control of it.

The opening words of the book he so loved to study are: “The foundation of piety and the root of pure service is for a person to clarify and affirm what his obligation is in his world.”

After Chen’s Shiva and hearing about his pure character from his brother (who was a commander in the army—a combat officer like all the brave sons and daughters of the Buchris family), I took it upon myself to study Mesillat Yesharim in Chen’s memory.

It seems to me that there are no more precise words to describe a person to whom we all owe our lives. Chen, you will forever be, to me, the one who fulfilled his obligation in this world.