Bekerman, Avi
Son of Yehudit and Michael. Born November, 11 1976 in Ashdod, the eldest brother of Erez, born about three years later. Despite being an orphan himself, my father served as an older brother and a mentor to a friend in his class. My father studied at the Renanim Elementary School and began his high school studies at the “Makif D” High School in Ashdod. From an early age my father knew and planned his way to the future, and his ambition was to become an airborne mechanic. He had already completed his studies at the Haifa Technical School and was certified as an airborne mechanic. Despite being an airborne mechanic flying in the sky, his hobby was to dive deep in the sea. He loved diving, was a diving instructor in the Ashkelon marina, and was followed by most of his friends and his girlfriend Gili. He used to go down to Eilat for weekends and dive with his friends. He also volunteered diving courses for boys who could not afford to fully finance their diving studies. Avi enlisted in the IDF in May 1994 and was assigned as an airborne mechanic in the squadron at the Tel Nof base, and was later appointed commander of the squadron’s weapons department and brought it to the highest level. “As an airborne mechanic, as a member of the team, you were more than you, a right-hand man to the high level of an airborne mechanic, highly valued by the air crews,” said his commander, Zviki. I have had the privilege to carry out a number of operational activities with you personally, which have a large part in their success. I remember in particular a certain activity that the squadron was required to carry out in a short period of time, which made it impossible to perform many exercises. I insisted, unusually, that you be the one who will fly with me as an airborne mechanic, knowing that I will have a good common language without the usual need to perform many exercises … When you were with me on the flight team, I felt calm and confident about the things you are responsible for. Where he joined the ranks of the career army, advanced to the rank of sergeant, and met his girlfriend of seven years, when he was 18 years old. The couple grew up and developed together and the future looked rosy. On March 27, 2002, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Park Hotel in Netanya, and at the same time my father celebrated the seder with Gili’s family. My father was brought to eternal rest in the military cemetery in Ashdod, aged twenty-five, and left behind a mother and her husband, a brother, a friend, grandmothers, uncles and aching friends. , Shaul Mofaz, wrote to the family: “My father served as an airborne mechanic in the ‘Night Rangers’ squadron at the Tel Nof base in the IAF. My father was described against a professional and responsible, who did his job in the best possible way and with great devotion. His commanders testify that he was an admired and worthy figure, and that he was loved and loved by those around him. The heart aches for the death of a talented counter and a wonderful man who was one of the pillars of the unit. “
