Abutbul, Yaakov (Kobi)

Son of Tzippi and Eli, brother to Ron, Ruthie, Ural and Netanel. Born on September 11, 1983, at the Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, Koby grew up in Kiryat Gat and began his elementary studies at the Jury School, and a year later moved to the Yoreh De’ah State Religious School, “Kobi was a gifted student with great knowledge, a friendly and loving child with a wide smile on his face.” In October 2001, Koby joined the IDF. He did basic training at the Zikim base near Ashkelon. During basic training, when asked what role he would want to serve, he repeatedly emphasized that he wanted to be a medic. And so it was. At the end of the basic training, Kobi was sent to the clinic at the Tze’elim base for two months until the start of the next paramedics course, where he began to acquire experience and skill in the position. In February 2002, a course for combat medics began in Zrifin. Although his medical profile was 64, during the course of the four-month course he never evaded and was able to meet the physical demands. He completed the course very successfully. At the end of the course, Kobi was returned to the Tze’elim base and began his duties as a medic. On Thursday, 9 Av 5763 (7.8.2003), Kobi felt tired due to the fast and retired to rest in his room. After about a minute, a shot was heard. His friends ran to the room and found Kobi lying on the floor. The doctor who was in the clinic at the time tried to stabilize his condition and even called for a helicopter, but after about forty minutes Kobi died, and no one knows how it happened. He was twenty years old when he fell. Kobi was buried in the Kiryat Gat military cemetery. Survived by his parents and three brothers. On September 7, 2004, Netanel was born, a brother whom Kobi did not get to know. In the lines of the personal inscription on his tombstone, it was written: “He walks innocently and acts righteously and speaks truth in his heart” (Psalms 15: 2). The blade is gone, but the length of our hearts will shine. “