Advanced Staff Sgt. Maj. Zidan Saif, 30, was buried Wednesday afternoon in a funeral attended by thousands of mourners from across the country. Israeli dignitaries, from both the Jewish and Druze community, were in attendance. Words of praise were heaped on the Druze hero who gave his life to save worshippers in the Kehillat Bnei Torah synagogue Tuesday.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin spoke at the funeral. “I stand before you in shock and in pain. Yesterday morning terror struck in Jerusalem once more. Terror that does not differentiate between people, between creeds… Your beloved Zidan, one of this State’s best sons, didn’t hesitate and didn’t waver,” Rivlin said, as reported by Haaretz. “He was among the first to reach the scene of the massacre, among the first to protect the people of Jerusalem. Your dear Zidane stood fearlessly before the terrorists and used his own body to blocked their attack, to block their fire.”
Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino praised Saif’s commitment to his job. “Zidan entered into the heart of hell, boldly and without fear,” Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino stated, according to Arutz Sheva. “He risked his life for the security of Israeli citizens.
“The actions of Zidan and his colleagues saved the day,” he continued. “It was a rapid and professional response, which avoided any more people from being hurt and prevented the terrorists from widening the scope of the attack as they intended.”
Sheikh Moafaq Tarif, spiritual leader of the Israeli Druze community, was also in attendance. According to The Jerusalem Post, he said the Druze “pay a heavy price in the blood of our sons but we will continue to defend our country.
“The Druze people are going through a difficult time, full of sadness and pride. In the past two weeks we’ve lost two of our precious sons who fell defending the country,” he continued, referring to the loss of Jidan Assad, 38, two weeks earlier in a car attack on a Jerusalem Light Rail station. “The entire Druze people bow our heads together with the families of those killed in the terrible massacre yesterday and hope for safer, quieter days.”
Tarif also called on President Rivlin and all present to work together to calm tensions in Jerusalem. “We cannot allow extremists to overcome reason and tolerance,” he added.
In an incredible expression of solidarity, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox people came to the funeral, travelling to the northern town of Yanuh Jat from the center of the country.
The impressive showing was in no small part the result of efforts by Ariela Sternbach, an ultra-Orthodox woman from Beitar Illit. She told The Jerusalem Post that when she heard Wednesday morning that Saif had died defending Jewish worshippers at prayer, she was moved to do something. She posted funeral information on Facebook, and was greeted with anonymous offers of donations to fund buses from Jerusalem to the funeral. A social media campaign ensued.
“This policeman had so much courage. He lives in this country and he was not of the Jewish people but he put his life on the line for us and sacrificed himself for us,” Sternbach told The Jerusalem Post.
“He leaves behind a widow and an orphaned child and I think his deeds must be recognized,” she said.
Saif was a traffic officer, and the first to arrive on the scene. Saif is survived by his wife, their four-month-old daughter, his five siblings and his parents.
