Belsky, Shlomi

Son of Galina and Alexander. He was born on August 8, 1980 in the city of Minsk, Belarus (former Soviet Union). Brother to Maxim. He attended elementary school number 77 in his hometown. At the end of December 1991 he immigrated to Israel with his family, which determined where she lived in Haifa. Shlomi studied for one year at Leo Baeck High School in Haifa, and then moved to the Air Force Technical School in Kiryat Ata. In mid-August 1998, Shlomi was drafted into the Air Force and served at the Tel Nof base. At the end of his regular service he signed a permanent position and served in the Nahal Brigade as part of the Logistics Corps, where he was assigned to the Etzion Regional Brigade and took part in routine security activities in the territories. Sergeant Shlomi Belsky was killed in operational activity on 23 Cheshvan, November 18, 2003 while on duty at the tunnels checkpoint at the southern entrance to Jerusalem. A terrorist who got out of a car with a rifle hidden in the carpet approached the checkpoint and opened fire. Shlomi’s mother, who at the time called to hear of his safety, heard bursts of gunfire after which the conversation was cut off. Shlomi was critically wounded and rushed to the trauma room at Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital. The doctors’ efforts to stabilize his condition failed and he died of his wounds. With him was First Sergeant Shaul Lahav, the checkpoint commander. Shlomi was twenty-three years old when he fell. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Haifa. Survived by parents and brother.