Roi Klein

Roi Klein (רועי קליין; ; (July 10, 1975—July 26, 2006) was an Israeli Major in the Golani Brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces and one of the most highly decorated soldiers who died during the 2006 Lebanon War. Klein was killed in the Battle of Bint Jbeil after jumping on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers.

Early life
Klein was born in Raanana, Israel. His parents, Aharon and Shoshana Klein, were Holocaust survivors. His father's side originated from Germany and fled to Israel at the onset of World War II. Most of his mother's family was killed in the Holocaust.

Klein studied Industrial Engineering and Management at Ariel University Center of Samaria, and graduated with honors.

Klein lived in a home he built on his own in the Hayovel community, near Eli, Mateh Binyamin. He was married to Sara and had two sons: Gilad and Yoav.

Israel Defense Forces
Klein began his IDF service in the Paratroopers Brigade but later transferred to the Golani Brigade's Egoz Reconnaissance Unit. In 2002, Klein received a Chief of Staff Citation for his conduct during an ambush near Nablus in which 5 Palestinian terrorists were killed. At the time of his death, Klein was the deputy commander of the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade.

Battle of Bint Jbeil
During the Battle of Bint Jbeil, a hand grenade was thrown over the wall that was between Hezbollah militants, and Klein and his unit. Klein told his men "Klein's dead, Klein's dead" and subsequently jumped on the live grenade and stopped the explosion with his body. The soldiers reported that Klein recited the Jewish prayer, Shema Yisrael, as he jumped on the grenade. According to other accounts he yelled "Long live Israel." He died one day before his 31st birthday.

Legacy
Roi Klein became a symbol for heroism in Israel. A new school in Netanya and Raanana have been named after him.

For his actions during the war Klein received the Medal of Courage posthumously.

In July 2009 the Israel High Court of Justice ruled to demolish the home of Roi Klein, where his family was residing, among 11 homes in Eli.