44 Years Later, Yehuda Yekutiel Katz, Hy”d, Finally Comes Home

An extraordinary and painful chapter came to a close today as Yehuda Yekutiel Katz, Hy”d, was finally brought to kever Yisrael — 44 years after he fell in battle in Lebanon.

The levaya began at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh, where Yehuda had learned before joining the IDF, before continuing to Har HaZeisim in Yerushalayim, where he was laid to rest.

Hundreds reportedly came out to pay their final respects and lined portions of the route.

Yehuda was the last of three Israeli soldiers who had remained missing from the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub to be brought home. The remains of Zachary Baumel were recovered in 2019, and those of Zvi Feldman were recovered last year, finally bringing closure to all three families.

His brother poignantly said:

“As far as we are concerned, he died today and not 44 years ago.”

After 44 long years, Yehuda Yekutiel Katz, Hy”d, has finally come home.