Staff Sergeant Ariel Sosnov z”l

About

💙 Staff Sergeant Ariel Sosnov z”l was born on the 15th of Tevet, 5764 (January 10, 2004) in Jerusalem, into a warm and supportive family that raised him on the values of love for others, community service, and uncompromising action for good.
His parents describe him as a boy full of life, with a deep desire to make a positive impact on those around him. From a young age, Ariel stood out as an extraordinary person.
His bond with his family was profound and meaningful—they were his source of strength and inspiration throughout his life.

🌍 Community Involvement
Ariel was deeply engaged in social and communal life. He was a central figure in youth movements and community initiatives. Among other things, he volunteered with Krembo Wings 🕊️, where he helped integrate children and teens with special needs into social activities. In this role, he became a role model, known for his rare patience and ability to connect with everyone.
He was also active in the Bnei Akiva ✡️ youth movement and served on the Jerusalem Youth Council, where he led numerous community and youth-focused initiatives.

🎖️ Military Service
Ariel chose to serve in a combat unit as a way to give back and defend his country. He joined the 605th Engineering Battalion of the Barak Armored Brigade ⚒️, where he was known for his exceptional dedication, genuine friendship, and courageous spirit.
Throughout his service, he demonstrated unwavering determination and a constant willingness to be there for his comrades.

🕯️ His Fall and Legacy
Ariel was killed on the 5th of Marcheshvan, 5785 (November 6, 2024), during a rocket barrage launched by Hezbollah toward Moshav Avivim in the Upper Galilee.
His death sent shockwaves through his family, friends, and all who knew him. The Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion, delivered a tearful eulogy, saying, "The city has lost one of its finest sons."
His funeral took place at Mount Herzl 🕊️ in Jerusalem and was attended by a large crowd of residents, soldiers, and community members who came to pay their final respects.

💖 In His Memory
Ariel’s family, friends, and community continue to honor his memory through various initiatives bearing his name.
He remains a symbol of leadership, generosity, and love for humanity 💙—an enduring source of inspiration for many.

🕯️ May his memory be a blessing. 🙏

his family

Parents:

Gabriel

Shoshana Rivka

Partners

Atara Sinton

Brothers:

Emmanuel

Nataniel

Michael

Linoy

Eliyahu

Gallery

Videos

סיפורים

Words written by Ariel’s father

My Ariel, my beloved son,
How I weep, how I miss you.
Saying goodbye to you breaks my heart anew every single day.
You left us too soon, and the void you've left behind can never be filled.
I think of you every moment, with every breath—imagining your smile, your voice, the light you brought into our world.

My love for you knows no bounds.
Even though you're no longer here in body, you are forever within me.
I find comfort in the memories we shared—in your words, your embrace—
tiny rays of solace in the midst of deep sorrow.

I miss you more than words can ever express.
This farewell is unbearable, but I promise to keep your memory alive,
to carry your light forward,
and to stay strong—for you.

Rest in peace, my beloved son.
My heart will always be with you.

— Dad

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Words written by Ariel’s mother

My dearest Ariel, my sunshine,
I can’t believe I’m writing the story of your life under such painful, heartbreaking circumstances.
How can one possibly sum up 20 years of life? Just 20 years and 10 months—but years filled with learning, growth, action, care, compassion, sensitivity, a true desire to make the world a better place.
You constantly gave of yourself to others, radiating unconditional love and kindness.

Ariel, my beloved, the joy of my life, my heart shatters into a thousand pieces as I write these words.
No amount of writing could ever be enough.
You were young in age but a man of wisdom, compassion, and character beyond your years.
Everyone who knew you saw the same thing: a boy, a young man, yet already a giant in spirit—overflowing with love, empathy, and boundless generosity.
A true angel in the form of a beautiful soul.
We were blessed to know you, to love you, to have you in our lives.

You dedicated your life to others—especially the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, the overlooked.
You found your purpose in places where others struggled, in homes where parents were too weary to help their special-needs children.
You stepped in with strength, compassion, and joy, and helped those children feel loved and whole.

It wasn’t always easy.
At first, you didn’t know how much you were capable of—until you tried.
Until you felt it.
Until you saw how much they loved you back.
And it happened quickly—in the family, at school, in Bnei Akiva, in “Acharai,” and especially in Krembo Wings.
Wherever you went, you entered the hearts of everyone: children, peers, counselors, adults—everyone.
They loved your smile, your sparkling eyes.

Ariel, you were born on Shabbat Parashat Vayechi, January 10, 2004, at 4:45 am in Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, Jerusalem.
A perfect baby.
What a joy it was to welcome you into the family—born on Shabbat, a sign of a lofty soul.
And that you were—pure, kind, and special from the very beginning.
You were blessed with wisdom, a big heart, endless love, and an eagerness to give and grow.

You were the heartbeat of our family, the light of every room.
You brought warmth and joy wherever you went.
The stories you loved to tell, the surprise flowers you gave me, your eyes always shining with excitement—it all lives on inside me.

You were born into a simple, traditional Bukharian family, but you grew up to be something truly rare.
Compassionate, wise, considerate, spiritual, and deeply aware of others’ needs.
From a young age, you knew you wanted to serve in the army—and before that, a year of service in the south with disadvantaged youth.
You helped them redirect their lives and believe in their future again.

You organized birthday parties for your little siblings at age 8, welcomed them from kindergarten, fed them, taught them to read—reading was your passion.
Dad called you a “bookworm.”
You loved the library, loved knowledge.
You even completed the perfect lines for your brother’s bar mitzvah song—your creative spark always amazed us.

From elementary school at Noam in Pisgat Ze’ev, to “Shuvu” in Neve Yaakov, to high school at “Kiryat Noar” where you found joy in the library—you always chose meaning.
You volunteered, helped, studied Torah, participated in everything.
You brought joy wherever you went, visited your grandmothers, and always remembered those in need.

You were the top of your class, and yet you never made anyone feel small.
You spent your time doing good, shining light, inspiring those around you.
You joined youth movements, discovered “Krembo Wings,” and became a leader, a mentor, a creator of change.
You had the rare ability to balance Torah, community, and humility.

And then came the army—
You always said, “If I don’t become a combat soldier, who will?”
And you did.
Your friends say you were the heart of the unit—uplifting, cooking, supporting, making everyone feel at home.
Always giving, always loving, always humble.

Even when it was hard—you wore your tzitzit proudly, kept kosher, fasted on Yom Kippur, and bought a blessing for the entire platoon.
You thought of everyone else before yourself.
You were special.
So special.

You dreamed of building a family with Atara.
You had plans for marriage, for a military career, for a future in education.
You lived with purpose and loved with your whole heart.

When you came home on Simchat Torah, I hugged you tighter than ever.
You let me.
It was our last hug, Ariel.
I didn’t know—but maybe you did.
You didn’t want me to see the pain in your eyes.
You were always protecting us.

Now we are broken.
The world has lost you.
We all miss you—your family, friends, Atara, your students, your fellow soldiers.
Everyone.
You entered so many hearts and left behind only light.

But now we are orphaned of your presence.
Our hearts bleed, and our tears don’t stop.
Ariel, my beautiful and brave son, that’s what I called you on the phone.
You laughed and asked me to change it—so I called you “our hero.”
Because that’s what you are.
A hero.
A giver.
A soul full of light.

You changed lives.
You healed hearts.
You gave everything.
And we will carry on your legacy.
We will help others.
We will spread light—your light—because that’s what you would have done.
That’s who you were.

My heart aches because you are far away now.
But I want to believe you are in a better place—where there is no war, no pain, no struggle.
Close to the Creator.
From there, please send us strength.
Guide us.
Help us continue your legacy, Ariel, my precious son.

May God avenge your blood—and the blood of all the soldiers who fell sanctifying the Land of Israel.

🕯️ May your soul be bound in the bond of eternal life.
Mom

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💔 Words from Atara

Our Sosnov. Our Soska. Our Soslini.
My Elal, my silly one, my love.
My Ariel.

It’s been twelve hours since I started trying to write a eulogy for you—and I still can’t.
So I decided to write you a letter.
A love letter.

Ariel, I could speak about you endlessly.
And still, it would never be enough.
About Ariel, with the dazzling smile, those unreal lashes, the curls, and that magnetic charm that flowed out of you.
Ariel, full of love, generosity, power to inspire and create.
Ariel, whose ego reached the sky and who truly believed he was the best.
And the truth is—you were the best.

We met when I was in 9th grade, in the Krembo Wings youth movement.
All I knew about you at first was that in your Zoom square you had named yourself: “Krembo isn’t tasty.”
And that you were a real troublemaker—impossible to ignore.

The first thing you ever said to me was:
“I didn’t know there was a blonde with blue eyes in this branch.”
And that’s where our story began. Our love.

In my second year at the branch, you were in 12th grade and I was in 10th.
We joined the same staff team, became close friends, and quickly our connection turned into something deeper.
You always made me text you when I got home safely—you’re still saved in my phone as: “Ariel, the Polish mom who watches over me.”
You’re not a mom, and you’re definitely not Polish—but you’ve always watched over me.
And you still do, from up above.

On March 11, 2022, you asked me to be your girlfriend.
Of course, you had to do it in an over-the-top romantic way.
You ran through a storm at midnight to my house.
You told me to come down to the storage room—which would later become like a second home to you.
You asked me to close my eyes, and then you apologized… for 10 whole minutes.
And finally, you said:
“I’m sorry for what I’m about to do, but I’m going to ask you to put up with me for a very long time.”

I was lucky—so lucky—to experience a real relationship with you.
To be loved by you.
To fall in love with you.
I thought I knew what love was…
But nothing could have prepared me for how deeply I could love someone—until I met you.

You were a tough nut to crack on the outside—rough around the edges, a little cocky, sarcastic, and so charismatic.
But inside, you were real.
Loving.
The kind of person who would do anything for the people he cared about.
You noticed everything, even the tiniest details.
You knew what the solution was to any problem.
You knew exactly when to call, when to order me food, when to bring gifts to my family, and exactly what to say.

Your campers meant the world to you.
You were the most accepting, open-hearted person I’ve ever known.
Someone you meet once—and never, ever forget.

I was lucky to be your partner, your ezer k’negdo.
We were so different, and still, you once asked me in a letter for our two-year anniversary:
"What did you ever see in me?"
On paper, we made no sense.
But Ariel, want to know what I saw in you?

I found my other half.
My soulmate.

— Atara

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Staff Sergeant Ariel Sosnov z”l

About

his family

Parents:

Partners

Brothers:

Gallery

Videos

סיפורים

Words written by Ariel’s father

Words written by Ariel’s mother

💔 Words from Atara

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Places Of Commemoration

The Tomb

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