Soldiers From Iconic Photo Reunite For 50th Anniversary Of Israel's Six-Day War in Maryland

OWINGS MILLS, MD – To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Israel’s Six-Day War in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, last week Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) reunited the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers from the iconic photo taken by David Rubinger, who passed away in March, of three paratroopers at the Western Wall after they had won the battle for Jerusalem.

Rubinger’s photo, “Paratroopers at the Western Wall,” is recognized as the defining image of the Six-Day War, June 5-10, 1967, during which Israel fought against Egypt, Jordan and Syria. During the war, Israel gained control over Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Sinai Desert and Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights.

“The photo that includes me as a young soldier, holding my helmet in front of the Western Wall, has become a part of history, and has come to define my life since that moment. I went from being an anonymous warrior to an unintentional symbol,” said Dr. Yitzhak Yifat, one of the three paratroopers captured in Rubinger’s photo. “By recreating that euphoric moment 50 years later, we underscored the endurance of our people, and the democratic Jewish homeland.”

All three paratroopers from Rubinger’s photo — Zion Karasenti, Haim Oshri and Yifat — attended events in Maryland, Washington and Virginia, including a private reception in Owing Mills, Maryland, on June 15; a Shabbat dinner for young professionals at American Friends of Lubavitch in Washington, D.C., on June 16; and a “Brunch with Heroes” at Chabad Lubavitch of Northern Virginia in Fairfax, Virginia, on June 18. Also in attendance were soldiers who benefit from the FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship Program, which grants college scholarships to IDF combat veterans of modest means.

Together, the events raised nearly $200,000 to support FIDF’s well-being and educational programs for IDF soldiers.

“The crucial moment Rubinger captured in his famous photo transformed the landscape of Israel and the entire Middle East – and changed the lives of Jews worldwide,” said FIDF Mid-Atlantic Executive Director Ari Dallas. “We thought it would be very powerful for our supporters to meet the three paratroopers from the historic photo here in Maryland. Our commemoration stressed the importance of the Six-Day War and the sacrifices that IDF soldiers made to ensure Israel’s survival.”

Dallas added: “As they did 50 years ago, the brave men and women of the IDF still put their lives on the line every day to protect the Jewish homeland. While their job is to look after Israel, ours is to look after them.”

Photos of the paratroopers during their Mid-Atlantic visit, and the iconic David Rubinger photo.

Photo #1: (From left) Haim Oshri, Dr. Yitzhak Yifat, and Zion Karasenti at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on June 18 (Photo credit: Ari Dallas/FIDF).

Photo #2: (From left) IDF Staff Sgt. (Res.) Gabriel; Zion Karasenti; Dr. Yitzhak Yifat; Haim Oshri; and FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir in Fairfax, Va., on June 18 (Photo credit: Bertrand Schreibstein).

Photo #3: (From left) FIDF National Vice President Robert Cohen; FIDF Washington, D.C., Chapter President Arnie Hiller; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; IDF Staff Sgt. (Res.) Gabriel; Zion Karasenti; Dr. Yitzhak Yifat; Haim Oshri; and FIDF Mid-Atlantic Executive Director Ari Dallas in Fairfax, Va., on June 18 (Photo credit: Bertrand Schreibstein).

Photo #4: (From left) Famous Israeli paratroopers Zion Karasenti, Dr. Yitzhak Yifat, and Haim Oshri in Fairfax, Va., on June 18 (Photo credit: Bertrand Schreibstein).

Photo #5: Left: David Rubinger’s iconic photo showing Israeli paratroopers (from left: Zion Karasenti, Yitzhak Yifat, and Haim Oshri) standing in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem during the Six-Day War, June 7, 1967 (Photo credit: David Rubinger/GPO). Right: A recreation of David Rubinger’s famous photo 50 years later at the Western Wall in Jerusalem (Photo credit: AFP).