Rivlin pays his respects to family of fallen haredi soldier Yosef Cohen

President Reuven Rivlin paid his condolences on Wednesday as he visited the family of Yosef Cohen, the Haredi soldier who was killed last Thursday at Givat Asaf in the West Bank. “When we were children protecting our homes during the War of Independence, there wasn’t a kid in Jerusalem who wasn’t part of the battle. Bombs fell all over Rechavia, Shaarei Chessed and Mea Shearim, distinguishing between none of them," Rivlin  said. "We all stood courageously against Sheikh Jarrah, and all those other places that wanted to take our lives to protect our homes and families. Your son Yosef, z”l, proved that it is, indeed, possible to maintain your identity while serving our nation.” Turning to Cohen's mother, Rivlin said,“Only a mother can instill her child with such abilities.”Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon also visited the bereaved family. Rivlin met Cohen two years ago when he went to visit the Netzach Yehuda (Nahal Haredi), a battalion in the IDF for haredi Jews. Rivlin is the first Israeli president to ever visit the brigade, David Hager, who is the founder and one of the main patrons of Nahal Haredi Organization said. Hundreds mourned the 19-year-old at his funeral last Friday. Speaking to the Post on Thursday night, Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav, Cohen’s step-father, described the family’s grief and related Yosef’s comments from last Shabbat.“We lost the most beloved thing of all, what can I say. We are broken and crushed. But we are also very strong. We are believing Jews,” said Meirav. “Last Shabbat, we sat together and we have a custom of saying what we are thankful for."