When her life was taken from her, Rose Lubin was right where she wanted to be. 

“By the age of 5, she had visited Israel twice and announced that she wanted to stay there,” her father, David Lubin, said at the funeral service in Israel honoring Rose. “She would tell new friends on the playground that they could only be friends for now because when she was 18, she would move to Israel and join the Israeli Army.”

“Rosie,” as she was known to family, was true to her word.

War torn: Owner of Memphis patisserie can’t help but think of Gaza

In 2021, at age 18, she made “aliyah” – the term literally meaning ascent, but commonly used as shorthand for moving to Israel, said her aunt, Brooke Lubin, who lives in Memphis.

In 2022, Rose joined the Magav – or Israeli Border Police.

“That was her dream,” said family friend Shoshana Cenker. “That was her purpose.” 

On Dec. 1, Rose would have celebrated her 21st birthday.

On Nov. 6, almost a month to the day of the Hamas invasion of Israel, Rose was standing guard near Herod’s Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was known to be a dangerous area, and it was there that she was stabbed, later dying from her injuries.

“Not a safe area,” her brother Alec said at the funeral service, which was attended by thousands, “but it is where she chose to be, and she guarded it the best she could. She stopped many altercations from occurring and took down a wanted terrorist during her service.

“She was praised by many and given awards for her actions,” Alec said, according to a report by Israel National News. “Rose also helped fight off the surprise attack on Oct. 7, with other soldiers and officers …”

In fact, a commanding officer said Rose “fought like a lioness.”

Because Rose was a recent immigrant – she grew up in an Atlanta suburb but has much family in Memphis – she fit Israel’s definition of “The Lone Soldier.” Thus, the thousands of Israelis coming to honor Rose and her family.

On Nov. 9, Sgt. Rose Lubin was buried in the police section of the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem.

The grieving, however, is ongoing. Friends have launched the “Remembering Rose Challenge,” asking people to light Shabbat candles on Friday nights in Rose’s honor, and to post pictures of the candles on Facebook with #rememberingrose.

“This has hit the Memphis Jewish community incredibly hard,” said Cenker, who is close with Rose’s aunt and uncle, Brooke and Ryan Lubin. “There’s just one degree of separation among all Jews.

“It’s heartbreak and devastation.”

‘Maternal,’ with a mohawk

Although she had not yet reached her 21st birthday, Rose was an old soul.

You just couldn’t let her sense of style throw you off.

“At one point, she had dreadlocks. And a mohawk with blue hair,” said 13-year-old cousin Celia Lubin, who is Brooke and Ryan’s daughter. “She wasn’t doing it for attention, she just didn’t care what anyone thought.”

Except when she did.

“She was the most free-spirited person I have ever known … the most understanding person I have ever met,” her brother Alec said. “If you had an issue, Rose was the one you would go to, to discuss it and solve it …”

Added Brooke: “She was very maternal. You would have expected her to be a mother with five children. So mature.”

Mature enough to pursue her passions without limits. At Dunwoody High School in Georgia, she was a cheerleader. Also, a member of the boys’ wrestling team.

“Talk about multitalented,” Brooke said. “And no fear. Her siblings worshipped her.”

As did a certain cousin.

Even now, Celia catches herself wondering how Rose would have responded in a given situation: “Like, if people aren’t being kind, what would Rose do?

“I always thought she was the coolest person ever,” Celia said. “I wanted to be Rose when I was little.” 

‘Tough’ and ‘sweet’

Rose brought people in, rather than pushing them out.

“She had a way about her that made everyone feel that they could get along with her and that she was always on their side,” her mother Robin said at the service. “Our house was filled with friends of every ethnicity and race. Rose loved to get into deep conversations and philosophize all night long.''

Rabbi Joel Finkelstein of Baron Hirsch Congregation recalls Rose playing with his daughter during visits to Memphis.

“I was just so proud of her. I’m just sad to see all the hopes and dreams of a special girl cut down,” he said. “She was able to be a tough soldier and a sweet person at the same time.”

Said Cenker: “The whole family is kind and generous. And Rose just showcased all of it. She was a helper, a volunteer, and had fierce determination.”

Right to the end, when she was where she was meant to be:

In the homeland, doing her part to keep it safe. No matter the cost.

“I can guarantee she would not want us to sit around and give up - mourn her, yes, but not give up,” Alec said. “She would want us to hold our heads up and continue proudly, as she did during her young and vibrant time here.”

Due to the nature of this story, the comments are turned off.