Ben Gila and Ezra. He was born in Afula on the 12th of Shvat 5742 (4.2.1982), a beautiful young brother to Amit and Assaf, who from his birth received love and many luxuries from all the family members. His brother Amit gave him the nickname ‘Frogi’. Aviad began his studies at the Jezreel elementary school in Afula, and from an early age he stood out as an intelligent and special child. When his parents bought a new computer, it was Aviad who read the operating instructions in English and guided his father in his first steps with the computer. On July 11, 1990, his older brother Amit, who served in the paratroopers, was killed while carrying out his duties. Aviad was in the summer vacation at the end of second grade. When he returned to third grade, the teacher told the class about the tragedy that had befallen the family, and Aviad read to all the children in the class from the booklet the family had published in memory of a colleague. After the reading, Aviad gave the booklet to his teacher, as a souvenir and a tear ran down his cheek. That same year, in the third grade, Aviad, with the encouragement of his mother and brother, decided to join the Hapoel Afula basketball team. He soon became a prominent and outstanding actor. Aviad played in the team continuously until the age of 17, while his mother accompanied him to all trips and games and prepared sandwiches for the whole team. Aviad did his high school studies at the Ben Gurion School in Afula. Over the years, Aviad has acquired many friends, and in his youth, many companies, and all of them were members of the family home. Aviad enlisted in the IDF in August 2000. At first he wanted to follow his brother Amit and serve in the paratroopers, but out of sensitivity and consideration for his parents, he changed direction and went to a course for sports instructors at the Wingate Institute. As a sports instructor at the base of the recruits of the Nahal Brigade in Tel Arad. With the consent of the family members, Aviad chose not to serve close to the house, as he was offered, out of a desire to do meaningful service and contribute as much as possible. In the unit in which Aviad served, his abilities and devotion were quickly met, and he was appointed to the sports instructor of the reconnaissance units and special units. The recruits admired Aviad, who always listened to them and took an interest in them, and when one of the apprentices found it difficult to finish the course he insisted that he try again and again, and even ran with him to the finish line. On April 24, 2002 Aviad fell in the line of duty. At the end of his training at the army’s recruits’ base, he collapsed, and all the attempts to save him were unsuccessful, and the Akirib family lost another son during his military service, when he was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Afula. His death was promoted to the rank of sergeant: “Even in difficult moments, when everything was low, Aviad made sure to throw a joke, to minimize the problem, to catch up with those around him with a smile. Ezra, the father of Amit and Aviad, writes to them: “Of all the accusing figures, the figures of my son, Amit and Aviad appear suddenly. With the irresistible smile and irresistible charm, and in a soothing voice they demand: ‘Home to you, we promise we will meet again.’ I held out my arms to my son, but my hands held only the void. “
