לעילוי נשמת / In loving memory

Yonah’s Flame

האש של יונה

A barbeque for our Chayalim. A reminder that they are loved. A flame kept burning for Yonah Hillel.

Support Yonah’s Flame Read the story

Before, during and after

Barbeques at the bases, through the war and, בעזרת השם, beyond it.

The far bases

Where our Chayalim stand guard, often far from home and loved ones.

In Yonah’s memory

Every meal is a way of keeping his light alive.

Why we light the flame

They are not alone

For several years now, I have been privileged to barbeque for our Chayalim at their bases, before the war, throughout the war, and, בעזרת השם, after the war too. I have done so alongside various groups, united by one simple but deeply meaningful purpose: to show our soldiers that they are loved, appreciated, and never forgotten.

Seeing the look on their faces when we arrive is truly unforgettable, especially at the most remote bases along our borders, where our Chayalim stand guard, often far from home and loved ones.

Emblem: a white dove rising through flame above a grill, a gold Star of David above it, and the Hebrew words Ha’Esh shel Yonah. — Ha’Esh shel Yonah: Yonah’s Flame.

Soldiers seated at green tables at night, sharing a meal beside military vehicles at a base, with their faces pixelated.

We bring a reminder that they are not alone. That here in Israel, and across the world, there are people who care deeply about them. People who are grateful for their courage and sacrifice. People who think of them, pray for them, and will NEVER forget that they are out there, standing between us and those who wish us harm.

Sharing these moments and witnessing what something as simple as a barbeque can mean to these young men and women reminds us why we do what we do. It is a small but meaningful way of giving back to those who give so much of themselves to protect us all.

And from this love for our Chayalim, Yonah’s Flame (האש של יונה) was born.

From the bases

What the flame looks like

Volunteers serving rice and grilled meat from foil trays under a blue shade cloth. — Rice, meat, and a plate passed across the table.

A volunteer seen from behind at a grill, in a black Yonah’s Flame shirt with the emblem on the back. — The grill, already going.

A smiling volunteer holding up a bottle and a cup beside a serving table. — A smile at the end of the line.

Two people roasting marshmallows over a long grill of white coals. — Coals still hot enough for something sweet.

A person holding a grilled burger open in foil. — Wrapped in foil, still warm.

Two men at night holding a framed certificate of appreciation for Yonah’s Flame. — A certificate of thanks for Yonah’s Flame.

In memory

Yonah Hillel Selengut ז״ל

יונה הלל סלנגוט ז״ל

Born September 19, 2003 / 22 Elul 5763 / כ״ב באלול תשס״ג

Niftar April 27, 2020 / 3 Iyar 5780 / ג׳ באייר תש״פ

Portrait of Yonah Hillel Selengut smiling, with a Hebrew memorial caption beneath. — **Yonah Hillel Selengut ז״ל**יהי זכרו ברוך

Memorial image of Yonah beside the flag of Israel, with his name in Hebrew.

Yonah at a playground, smiling down at a baby who has his mouth open.

Over the past 12 months, this project has taken shape as a way to honour and remember my beloved son, Yonah Hillel, who was niftar (passed) on April 27, 2020 (3 Iyar 5780), while exercising at home.

From a very young age, Yonah loved to barbeque for Chayalim. That spirit of love and giving was in him from his earliest years, and it is the spirit we now carry on in his name.

Yonah is no longer physically here with us, but his memory, his spirit, and the love he left behind continue to inspire us. This is something he would have wanted to do had he been here, and something he would have wanted us to continue doing in his memory.

Through Yonah’s Flame, we have the opportunity to turn our love and longing for Yonah into something tangible and meaningful. Every barbeque, every meal served, and every smile brought to a soldier’s face becomes another way of honouring his memory and keeping his light alive.

A flame can do so much more than cook a meal. It can bring people together, offer warmth in difficult times, lift spirits, and remind someone that they matter. And it can keep the memory of someone we love burning brightly, long after they are gone.

That is the heart of Yonah’s Flame.

What they say

In Their Words

A testimonial from a very happy Chayal

In Their Voice

A huge thank you to all the amazing donors who made it possible for us to enjoy such an incredible BBQ with the one and only Yitzie Selengut, and the amazing cookies baked by Deena!
What incredible steaks! It made everyone here feel so good and appreciated. We were absolutely thrilled and enjoyed such a wonderful, delicious dinner.
To travel such a long way - two and a half hours each way, five hours on the road in total - just to make us happy… There are truly no words.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Ashreichem Yisrael! (How fortunate we are to be part of such an incredible people!)

A huge thank you to Yitzie Selengut and the entire crew who came and generously donated the meat and put together this incredible BBQ for Brigade 6.
We truly appreciate it! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the happiness and joy you bring to our soldiers.
There is nobody like you! ❤️

Letters

Endorsements

From Rabbi Hillel Merzbach of the Central Synagogue, Yad Binyamin. Tap a letter to enlarge it.

Letter of Recommendation

English translation

B’siyata Dishmaya (With God’s help)
12 Cheshvan 5787, 16/10/2026

Recommendation

I would like to recommend the organization “Yonah’s Flame” (האש של יונה), which initiates a meaningful activity of providing food, including a grill and “meat on the fire”, for soldiers, on a volunteer basis.

The leader of the activity is:
Name: Yitzi (Ira) Selengut. ID no.: (omitted here)
Address: 8 Tzofit Street, Yad Binyamin. Mobile: 054-394-5602

From my deep acquaintance with Yitzi and the “Yonah’s Flame” team, I can attest that they travel to bring joy to soldiers throughout the Land of Israel (from the far north to the far south). They prepare hot food for them that includes meats on the fire and various other treats.

All of the activity is done out of a sense of mission and love, in order to give the soldiers strength and motivation to fight for the people of Israel.

It is a great merit to help them. And everyone who donates to them is a partner in giving strength and joy to the soldiers of the IDF.

With great blessing,
On behalf of the signature,
Hillel Merzbach
Rabbi of the Central Synagogue, Yad Binyamin

Kashrut Certificate

English translation

B’siyata Dishmaya (With God’s help)
2 Tevet 5786, 22/12/2025

Kashrut Certificate

I would like to certify the kashrut of the food activity, including a grill and “meat on the fire”, for soldiers, which he does on a volunteer basis:

From: Yitzi (Ira) Selengut. ID no.: (omitted here)
Address: 8 Tzofit Street, Yad Binyamin. Mobile: 054-394-5602

According to my inspection, his meats are of mehudar (superior) kashrut, and everything is done according to all the rules of halacha, and is kosher with mehudar kashrut.

The meat products:

Meats: Chalak Lemehadrin / Atara.
Spices and basic products with Badatz kashrut, with Rabbinate approval.
Leafy vegetables - free of insects, according to the highest standards.

On behalf of the signature,
Hillel Merzbach
Rabbi of the Central Synagogue, Yad Binyamin

From the field

Favorite Stories from the Flame BBQs

A Flame BBQ, Start to Finish

I like to arrive about two hours before a unit wants to eat, and I need every minute of it. No matter how well we plan, something always comes up.

Sometimes it starts at the gate. We usually have to register at the חמ״ל (Chamal), the base’s “war room”, which works as its logistics and security center. Sometimes the tables we asked for haven’t been set up, or the spot meant for the barbeque still has Humvees or tanks parked on it. We sort it out and get to work. The grills go up and get lit, and while the coals heat, the buffet is set up, the vegetables are sliced and the tables are arranged. Then the meat goes on the fire. Somehow, almost every time, it’s all ready exactly on time, give or take five minutes.

A grill at a base covered in rows of burgers and marshmallow skewers, with a soldier standing behind it. — Cooking up a storm

The Chayalim line up and our volunteers serve them. They come back for seconds, and the food almost never runs out. While they eat, the commander speaks to the unit and thanks us and our donors. Then we say a few words about why it’s called האש של יונה, Yonah’s Flame. Chayalim and officers often come over afterwards to ask about Yonah and how he died. They are shocked, and they offer their condolences.

A buffet table of grilled meats and rice in foil trays, with soldiers lining up to be served under a blue shade cloth. — Food’s up, everyone!

When it’s over, the buffet comes down, everything is cleaned, the grills are scraped, the coals are doused and the van is packed. Nothing edible is ever thrown out. Leftovers are wrapped for Chayalim who are out on patrol or couldn’t make it, or left as a midnight snack for the unit. If the unit doesn’t want them, I call commanders at bases on the way home, even a little out of my way, and drop them off. Then it’s home to unload the van, wash the dishes, and look forward to the next one.

Soldiers and volunteers eating together at long tables under a covered terrace at night. — Making the Chayalim so happy and nourished

Their reactions? At the far bases, they’re usually surprised that we really came. The smallest barbeque I’ve done was for nine Chayalim, from a unit of ten that had just come out of Gaza, an hour and a half from home. They feel the love and attention. They try to thank us, but the thanks belongs to them. If they aren’t here, we aren’t here. It all starts with them, and it ends with them.

A volunteer smiling beside a soldier at a base, with white containers behind them. — A very grateful and happy Chayal with me

The small touches matter too. My daughter is doing her second year of Sherut Leumi in California, and the children at her school made cards for the Chayalim. A friend who was there on a business trip brought them over, and we put them out on the tables. The Chayalim were blown away that anyone had thought of them. They love Deena’s chocolate chip marshmallow cookies when we have them. And one thing I added was marshmallows to roast. It’s a small American thing, but they LOVE it.

How to help

Support Yonah’s Flame

With your help, we can continue bringing that warmth, love, and sense of connection to our Chayalim, wherever they may be stationed. We can show them that the people they protect stand firmly behind them, and that their sacrifices are neither unseen nor forgotten.

We can also honor Yonah Hillel by keeping his memory alive through acts of kindness, generosity, and love.

What your donation covers

Your donation pays for a barbeque for a group of Chayalim. It covers everything:

Meats
Sides & salads
Breads
Drinks
Grills & coal
Accessories
Fuel
Everything else a barbeque needs

What a gift does

The cost depends on the number of Chayalim we are feeding. $30 per head covers all of the above. (For very distant destinations, there may be a small addition for fuel.)

$30feeds one soldier

$1,500a Pluga (company) of 50 Chayalim

$3,000100 Chayalim

Any amount you choose makes a difference.

Donate to Yonah’s Flame

The army supplies food for its soldiers, but these evenings are something special, for the Chayalim and for the donors and volunteers too. To serve and mingle with those who stand on the front lines, who protect us and allow us and our children to sleep soundly at night, is not only a privilege and a rewarding experience, but a special calling.

Please consider supporting Yonah’s Flame. Every contribution, large or small, helps us bring another barbeque, another meal, another smile, and another reminder to our Chayalim that we are here for them, we love them, and we will NEVER forget them.

Our goal? As long as they are there, we will be there.

Please help us keep Yonah’s flame burning.

Donate to Yonah’s Flame

In Yonah’s memory, may his light continue to shine through every flame we light, every soldier we feed, and every heart we touch.

יהי זכרו ברוך

May his memory be a blessing.

Write to Yitzie

Join us

Come and serve with us

Yonah’s Flame is powered by volunteers. Whether you can help at the grill, serve the food, set up and clean up, or simply spend an evening with our Chayalim, we would love to have you.

To serve and mingle with those who stand on the front lines is not only a privilege and a rewarding experience, but a special calling. Tell us a little about yourself and when you are available, and we will be in touch.

Volunteer with us