Sgt 1st Class (Res) Benyamin Asulin
Susan R. Eisenstein: 2nd Piece Let The World Know: A Series Honoring Israel’s Fallen and Wounded Heroes
Because this series is so new, I will begin this second piece in the series, as I began the first.
So, for this year, Yom Hazikaron has passed. But it has not, not really. And it never really will ever pass, not any day of any year. The precious lights and souls that our nation has lost all too early due to senseless, baseless hatred, centuries of false narratives, historically incorrect and rewritten narratives, and death-informed ideology, need to be remembered and honored worldwide, ALWAYS, by all persons. Their stories show the waste, horror, and the cost of evil. And their stories need to remind the world of a nation’s people who are killed and murdered and live under threat every day, simply for being HUMAN and defending their country, simply for wanting to live in peace, be allowed to grow up, have dreams, a profession, a life like everyone else, and bring goodness and kindness to the world. They were mothers, fathers, siblings, cousins, grandparents and friends. And the positive gifts that they would have brought to the world will now never be known.
May their memories be for a blessing
My series continues with Sgt 1st Class (Res) Benyamin Asulin, Benyamin Asulin was from Haifa, 28 years old. He served in the Northern Brigade of the Gaza Division. And for a straight eight months, Benyamin Asulin served in reserve duty. On July 8, 2025, Sgt 1st Class (Res) Benyamin Asulin fell in battle, killed in a roadside bomb explosion in the Beit Hanoun area of Northern Gaza.
But just as important as remembering and honoring Benyamin’s death, is at the same time remembering and honoring who Benyamin was in life. Benyamin was the youngest of four children, survived by his parents and siblings. And Benyamin was also the cousin of the founder and CEO of Iron Dome Coffee, Justin Yehuda. “I have very fond memories of Benny from our childhood. We used to sit around for hours watching funny videos on YouTube, playing video games, and enjoying each other’s company,” Justin told me. “Benny was a true stud: he was tall, good-looking, smart, he played the guitar, and girls loved him. I miss him dearly.”
And while Justin Yehuda has publicly shared his cousin’s story, including in his newsletter to over 16,000 people, I would also like to share what Justin has written here.
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Today is Yom Hazikaron. Israel’s Memorial Day. |
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| Today we remember every soldier and every civilian who gave their life for the State of Israel. I know today is an incredibly tough day for so many families.
I want to tell you about my cousin.
Sergeant First Class Benyamin Asulin. “Benny” to us. He was 28 years old, from Haifa. A reservist in the Northern Gaza Brigade. On the night of July 7th, 2025, his unit was on foot during an operation in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. Hamas detonated three roadside bombs, one after another. Five soldiers were killed. Fourteen were wounded. Benny was one of the five.
Many of you remember the email I sent that day, sharing this painful news with you all. It’s been 9 long months, and I still can’t believe Benny is gone.
Benny was the kind of person who put his life on hold to fight for his country. Haifa’s mayor said Benny “embodies all the good and noble things in us. A young man, with ambitions and dreams, who puts his life on hold and enlists to fight for the country.” He was right.
Personally, the irony is painful. I built Iron Dome Coffee to help rehabilitate wounded soldiers, to offer Israeli people a chance to move forward with their lives.
I wish Benny could have been a wounded soldier instead of a fallen soldier.
And losing him at such a young age makes this mission deeply personal to me:
I want to prevent other families from losing their loved ones to war. From having to go through what my family in Israel went through.
Today I’m thinking about Benny. I’m thinking about every family sitting with an empty chair. I’m thinking about the soldiers fighting right now as I write this. And I’m thinking about this community.
Thank you for being here. Today more than ever.
Am Yisrael Chai. Justin Yehuda, Founder & CEO, Iron Dome Coffee |
