Yair Belachovsky, founder of Tel Hai Trustees, is leading an effort to preserve and expand the legacy of Tel Hai, the site of a pivotal 1920 battle in which eight Jewish defenders, including Joseph Trumpeldor, were killed. The battle and Trumpeldor’s reported final words, 'It is good to die for our country,' became a defining moment in Israel’s national story. For Belachovsky, the mission is also personal: his grandfather was the youngest defender at Tel Hai and treated Trumpeldor’s wounds.

Belachovsky will present the English edition of The Roaring Lion at an upcoming conference in New York, aiming to bring the story of Tel Hai to a global audience. The book, expanded from a family booklet into a comprehensive historical work, explores the battle’s legacy, the meaning of Trumpeldor’s words, and the broader Jewish and national themes surrounding Tel Hai. Belachovsky draws parallels between the wounded heroism of Trumpeldor and that of soldiers injured in the current war, emphasizing continuity in sacrifice and values.

Through the book and his broader initiatives, including efforts to upgrade the Tel Hai memorial and promote national unity, Belachovsky hopes to inspire immigration to Israel and strengthen Jewish identity worldwide. He argues that Tel Hai’s enduring lesson is the importance of unity and serving the greater good, adding that if Trumpeldor were alive today, he would say, 'It is good to live for our country.'