Ofakim in Beersheba, Southern District, Israel — West Asia (the Levant in the Middle East)
The Lion of Ofakim
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אריה יהודה
Photographed by Jerry Klinger
1. The Lion of Ofakim Marker
אריה יהודה
"כֹּה, אָמַר יְהוָה, עַל-שְׁלֹשָׁה פִּשְׁעֵי עַזָה, וְעַל-אַרְבָּעָה לֹא אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ: עַל-הַגְלוֹתָם גָּלוּת שְׁלֵמָה, לְהַסְגִּיר לֶאֱדוֹם. וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי אֵשׁ, בְּחוֹמַת עַזָה; וְאָכְלָה, אַרְמְנֹתֶיהָ"
(עמוס
this page online
The Lion of Ofakim
"Thus saith the LORD: For three transgressions of Gaza, yea, for four, I will not reverse it: because they carried away captive a whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom. So will I send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour the palaces thereof."
(Amos 1:6-7)
Donated by the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation With Support from the City of Ofakim
Sculptor: Sam Philipe 2025
Erected 2025 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, City of Ofakim.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Wars, Non-US. In addition, it is included in the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. series list.
Location. 31° 16.6′ N, 34° 39.167′ E. Memorial is in Ofakim, Southern District, in Beersheba. It is at the intersection of Derekh Sayeret Shaked and Route 241 on Derekh Sayeret Shaked. Touch for map. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Asia, specifically in West Asia, in the Middle East, in The Levant, on the Red Sea, in a coastal Mediterranean country, and in the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, a British Mandate, and the Roman Empire.
Photographed by Jerry Klinger
2. Ofakim Lion and Marker
Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within 16 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Palmach Negev Brigade Memorial (approx. 16 kilometers away).
More about this memorial. The Lion of Ofakim is sited at the Western approach to the City of Ofakim that Hamas Terrorists used to access the City on October 7, 2023. The ~24' full-sculpted Lion is reputed to be the largest lion in the Middle East. It sits on top of a ~10' stone base.
Regarding The Lion of Ofakim / אריה יהודה. The battle of Ofakim (Hebrew: קרב אופקים; Arabic: معركة سديروت) began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale surprise attack on southern Israel from Gaza, which was widely condemned as an act of terrorism. The attack killed nearly 40 unarmed people. The Israeli city of Ofakim (Hebrew: אופקים) is a city in the Southern District of Israel, 20 kilometers (12.4 mi) west of Beersheba.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas and their Gaza supporters killed more than 1,200 people, across the Gaza envelope, kidnapping another 240 non-combatants and taking them back to Gaza as hostages.
Also
Photographed by Jerry Klinger
3. The Lion of Ofakim
1. Video of Lion of Ofakim being sited. (Submitted on April 5, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
2. Battle of Ofakim. (Submitted on April 5, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
3. Bravery of locals prevented bloodier Ofakim massacre as IDF failed to act, army finds.
The Israel Defense Forces failed in its mission to protect the southern city of Ofakim during the Hamas-led onslaught on October 7, 2023, a military investigation published Sunday concluded, determining that the rapid halt to the killing spree was due not to military intervention, but to the courage and initiative of local police officers, armed civilians and a handful of soldiers.(Submitted on April 5, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
4. The Roaring Lion of Ofakim.
Early, around 6:45 AM, the terrorists arrived in Ofakim from the West along Route 241. They were heavily armed with guns, hand grenades, RPG rockets, plastic explosive charges, and mines.(Submitted on April 8, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
The residents, startled from their sleep by the scream of the sirens, scrambled out of their houses seeking the safety of nearby bomb shelters. The terrorists waited and killed the unarmed as they tried to reach safety. Methodically, they proceeded house to house, pounding on the doors, yelling, Jew, Jew, open the door. They shot anyone they encountered.
A few residents, under Israels tight gun control laws, who were permitted to have handguns, emerged fighting back. The tiny police force fought back. A couple of soldiers, home for the holiday weekend, joined in the fight. They were all heavily outgunned.
They fought back with the ferocity of Lions.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 28 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 5, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
