Engineer killed in Lebanon blast felt ‘duty bound’ to serve despite impact on career

The families of Rael Birnshtock and Tamir Wekein, two Israeli reservists killed by an explosive device in Lebanon, have spoken of their loved ones’ unwavering commitment to military service despite the significant personal costs. Birnshtock, 38, was a senior engineer at Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems and left behind four children. Wekein was a paramedic whose military duties had affected his professional prospects. Despite these sacrifices, their relatives said neither man ever considered withdrawing from reserve duty.

“Rael put his whole life on hold,” said Michael, a close friend of Birnshtock. The engineer had repeatedly postponed career opportunities and family plans to meet military obligations. His dedication was matched by Wekein, whose brother Yoav revealed that the paramedic had been on track for a significant promotion in the United States before his death, a move that would have required him to leave Israel permanently.

“He felt he had a duty,” Yoav explained, describing how his brother had made the conscious decision to remain available for reserve service despite the professional consequences. Both men had cited a sense of obligation to their country as their reason for continuing to serve, even as military commitments disrupted their civilian lives. Their deaths during operations in southern Lebanon have highlighted the ongoing toll that reserve service demands on Israeli families and professionals.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.