Avner, Chaim Meir

The youngest son of Bela and Hanoch HaCohen, was born on July 17, 1957, to an ultra-Orthodox family in Jerusalem. Haim began his studies at the “Shilo” Talmud Torah in Jerusalem and completed his studies at the Hagra Yeshiva in Haifa, although he and his two brothers joined the IDF and served full compulsory service. Haim Meir was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of May 1975 and was assigned to the Ordnance Corps, where he took a driving course, a half-tracks course and a tractor drivers course. He spent three years without any special events. Chaim was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and when he was released, he was given a release certificate in which his behavior was described as very good. The assessment of his commanders was that “he showed willingness and will, fulfilled his duties to the satisfaction of his commanders.” At the beginning of May 1978 Haim was discharged from the regular army and assigned to reserve duty in the Ordnance Corps. He never tried to get out of reserve duty. He was a devoted and obedient soldier, and he carried out his duties with dedication, responsibility and loyalty. It revealed lofty qualities of humility, manners, and respect for others. On the 17th of Adar 5745 (March 10, 1985), Sgt. Haim fell in combat in Lebanon as part of the Peace for the Galilee War and was brought to eternal rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. He left behind his parents, three sisters and two brothers. His family established his name in the establishment of Torah libraries in yeshivas and batei midrash, at the foundation of the Gemilut Chasadim Fund, in the establishment of a Torah studies department and in the installation of a plaque in his memory at the Or HaChaim Beit Midrash. A tree in his memory was planted in the forest of the defenders. In his memory, and in memory of eleven of his friends who fell with him, Gilad was established near their place of residence. At the base of the Ordnance Corps, from which they set off on their last journey, a garden was planted in the name of Haim and his comrades