Modi’in and Rochester build memorials for fallen soldiers

Residents of Modi’in, Israel, and Rochester, New York, are collaborating to honor soldiers killed since the October 7th massacre by creating paths and markers throughout Modi’in bearing the soldiers’ names and stories.

The initiative began after Yonah Brief, a soldier from Modi’in, died from wounds sustained in battle, inspiring his family to launch a blood drive that collected 480 gallons in its first year.

The Modi’in-Rochester Partnership, known as Partnership2Gether (P2G), facilitated the project, working with the Modi’in Municipality to place these “misholim”, paths, near locations significant to the soldiers’ lives. Eden Zimri, a soldier killed on October 7, is remembered along a path near her former swimming pool, while Eitan Auster’s path leads to the synagogue. Families are consulted before a memorial is created, and some now visit the paths on Remembrance Day instead of traditional cemeteries.

The partnership also extended to honour Yonatan Dean Chaim, a new immigrant to Israel from Rochester, who died in combat, with a path built in his memory following a request from the Rochester community in Summer 2025. P2G emphasizes in-person connections between the communities through programs like the Journey for Identity, a three-week trip to Rochester, Poland, and Israel for youth.

Despite a recent Pew Research study showing 60% of US adults hold an unfavorable view of Israel, the partnership continues to strengthen ties, recognizing that financial support alone is insufficient. Martin Zand, a professor in Rochester, described the work as acknowledging shared struggles, both physical and existential, between Israelis and members of the Diaspora.