Arieli, Ofer

Ben Rina and David. Born on August 5, 1972 in Be’er Sheva, the eldest son of a family of three. Ofer grew up and was educated in Jerusalem, where the family moved. He studied at the Giv’at Ze’ev elementary school in Givat Ze’ev and at the Boyar High School in Jerusalem, specializing in physics and mathematics. He finished high school with honors. A curious and sensitive child with a sweeping and conquering smile, who wanted to understand and know, and read many books of science fiction. Was very sensitive when he felt injustice done around him. In elementary school, Ofer was a brilliant student. His educator noted that Ofer was always in the center, a boy who “pulled on strings”. When he grew up slightly, his friends called him humorously “Mr. Responsibility” because he always took it upon himself to lead. During his spare time, Ofer was active in the patrols unit in Jerusalem. He traveled extensively in Israel, loved the landscapes and knew the unique vegetation in the Jerusalem area. Ofer was an introverted boy, even an individualist, and at the same time always at the center of the group. Before his enlistment in the IDF, Ofer received a summons for the Talpiot project, but preferred to enlist in a pilot course, and at the end of February 1991, Ofer was drafted into the IDF and began flying. When he dropped out of the course, he volunteered for the paratroopers and was chosen to serve in the “Orev” unit. According to his friends in the unit, Ofer set himself very high standards and stood in everyone. He completed basic training, took a parachuting course, went on to continue his combat training in the infantry commander course, and at the end of the course he received the rank of Corporal, and was chosen to go to a combat paramedics course. With his unit for continued training and operational activity in Lebanon, and Ofer was sent to combat officers’ course, but his route and atmosphere were not in his liking and character, and his friends said that he “hated” giving orders and taking orders. , Ofer was responsible and prudent, a central figure who sometimes played the part of the team commander On May 20, 1993, when he served with his unit at the Reihan post in southern Lebanon, Ofer was brought to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl In his letter of condolence to the bereaved family, the unit commander wrote: “From the moment Ofer joined the team, he joined him as a responsible combatant and a good and devoted friend. He performed his duties as a warrior and a remarkable medic. Two days before his death, Ofer participated in the operation in which Lieutenant Zohar Halamish was killed. “Ofer’s plans to travel to Africa, to study at the university and to establish a new kibbutz in the south of the country were prematurely cut off.” The family commemorated Ofer’s name in the room A call they made at the Givat Zeev school, where he studied and was educated.