Abarbanel, Haim

Haim, son of Ruth and Yitzhak, was born on 7 July 1954. He studied at the “HaMa’apilim” elementary school in the city and continued his studies at the ORT vocational high school, in the framework of mechanical frameworks. Good and disciplined and loved by his teachers and friends, after graduating from the Israel Aerospace Industries, he worked in the Aircraft Industries, with the help of his aircraft, and with his craftiness and diligence, and he appreciated his responsibility and his precision. He was well-behaved and courteous and pleasant, and was known among his friends as having a sense of humor, optimism and smiling, who liked to joke and was a loyal son and devoted to his parents. Haim was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in early August 1972 and was assigned to the Engineering Corps, where he was a soldier who was responsible and dedicated to his position, and served as an example of his comrades. On October 22, 1973, at the “Clutch” outpost on the Suez Canal, Chaim was hit by a Katyusha rocket fired at his position, and he was killed on the spot. He was buried in the cemetery on Mount Herzl. After his death, he was promoted to the rank of corporal, and in his letter of condolences to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “Your son, Corporal Chaim Abarbanel, was killed seven minutes before the ceasefire went into effect, while performing his role in building bridges over the Suez Canal. He was one of the best soldiers in the company. He always volunteered for every job. He took part in other operations in the war and in all of them excelled. “