Arditi, Gilad

Son of Dora and Moshe’s. He was born on the 17th of Av 5768 (August 11, 1968) in Be’er Sheva. A brother of Nir and Eyal. Gilad studied and was educated at the “Talmim” elementary school until the sixth grade and continued at the Gevim Elementary School until eighth grade. In the “Makif” high school he studied in the electricity track. In 1986, after twelve years of schooling, Gilad enlisted in the IDF and served in the Air Force as a five-year-old fighter, and after completing three years of compulsory service he was offered a career in the IDF. The father died on June 23, 1988. On June 23, 1992, Gilad went on a tour of European countries and on January 24, 1992 he completed a police course and was elected to the department’s outstanding trainee. (Second Sergeant), was assigned to the Execution Office and served there for four years. On May 18, 1995 he completed his training in the Explorer Tester. He then moved to the traffic section and served as a traffic activist. Five months later he successfully completed a symbol course. Gilad was not frozen. On March 26, 1998, he was trained in a course for car examiners and road accident investigators and was awarded a certificate of excellence. Seven months later, he took part in a traffic test course, and again received an outstanding title. He was promoted and began his new position – studying traffic in Be’er Sheva. In 1992, Gilad met Anat and after two years of friendship, on June 1, 1994, the two married. In 1996 their eldest daughter Moran was born and in 1999 their son Omer was born. Gilad loved animals and especially dogs. As a child, he had raised abandoned street dogs, nurtured them, and cared for everything they needed. During his high school studies, as part of his personal commitment, he volunteered for the “Cruelty to Animals” association. After leaving military service, he raised dogs in his home. The last dog to receive his devoted care was Boxer, whom Gilad named Simba. The two were tied at first sight and Gilad was as proud of him as his son. During his spare time, he rode his bicycle and traveled around the country. Thanks to the riding hobby, he got to know the Negev trails and fell in love with the area. But his main hobby was to renovate his cars and motorcycles. He invested in them of his time, his money and energy, and when he was riding on the motorcycles he renovated, he felt independent and liberated. Half a year before his death, Gilad began an ambulance driver course in Magen David Adom (Magen David Adom), where he performed a variety of positions in MDA and sought to expand his knowledge of the subject. In May 2006, Gilad moved to the Arad station and was appointed head of the movement’s office. Major-General Gilad Arditi fell during his service On July 8, 2006, at the age of thirty-eight in his death. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Be’er Sheva. Survived by a wife, two sons, a mother and two brothers.