Bar Lev, Raphael

Raphael, son of Rina and Benjamin, was born in Tiberias on April 21, 1947. At the age of four, he moved with his family to Haifa, where he studied at the “Urim” and “Dror” elementary schools and in the ” , Who was educated at the Technion and was a member of the United Movement in Haifa, first as an apprentice and then as a mentor, and was already prominent in his ability to lead and excite people. And from his first acquaintance with him, they learned to trust him and rely on him, as a guide who excelled in planning and carrying out unusual activities that excited both his apprentices and his superiors. Rafi organized many trips and trips to all parts of the country and became familiar with every corner of the country. His albums are full of photographs taken at different times, in many places, and in a variety of friendships.Rafi was also an avid sports enthusiast and liked to engage in physical activity on a regular basis and enjoyed the combination of all his hobbies to an activity in which all his talents reached optimal expression. His varied talents gave him a feeling of great self-confidence and faith in his powers. Indeed, when the time came for him to enlist in regular army service, it was clear to him that he would choose the most difficult course of the elite in the elite of the IDF, Rafi was drafted into the IDF in early August 1965 and volunteered for the paratroopers. After successfully completing basic training, he volunteered for a reconnaissance unit of the IAF. As part of this elite unit, he underwent special training and was trained for unusual tasks. His ability to integrate seamlessly into society and his leadership talent led his commanders to send him to an officer’s course. He completed the course with honors and became one of the most promising officers of the corps. His work was highly appreciated. His commanders regarded him as a very responsible officer, who could be relied upon “by all means.” As a man, he was seen as honest, loyal and devoted. Raphi was very involved in what was going on in his company, was a friend and a friend to all his subordinates and personally inquired about the fate of each of them. Later, he was sent to a course for intelligence officers and a course for retraining officers who also graduated with honors, and at the end of his regular service he was discharged and began studying mechanical engineering at the Technion in Haifa. Succeeded in meeting the pleas of his commanders and comrades in arms, and after one year returned to the IDF and volunteered to serve in the regular army. This was the period of the War of Attrition and he was sent to command a stronghold on the banks of the canal. At the head of his men were a number of attempted raids by Egyptian soldiers. In 1972 he was discharged from the career army as a commander of a tank company in the Armored Corps and renewed his studies at the Technion. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Rafi was abroad. He hurried back to Israel to join his company. As commander of an armored company, he participated in the battles in the Sinai and fought in the battles to the West Bank of the Canal. On the 16th of Tishrei 5734 (October 16, 1973) Rafi was killed in battles for the “Chinese farm.” He was brought to eternal rest in the Haifa cemetery and left behind a wife, parents and two sisters. 2017 It was emphasized that Major General Rafael Bar-Lev was awarded the Medal of Honor of the Commander of the Command.