Ben-Ami (Ben-Chamu), Eliyahu

Eliyahu Son of-Ami, son of Mercedes and Yosef Son of-Chamu, was born on September 15, 1961 in Ashdod, where his family immigrated to Israel from Tangier, and was the only child in his family born in Israel. At the end of July 1982 he was about to be discharged from compulsory service. He planned his wedding and continued his studies at the university. But then the Peace for the Galilee war broke out and Eliyahu left with his unit to Lebanon. On June 10, 1982, he fell in battle in the outskirts of Beirut, north of the town of Damur. He was 20 when he died. Eliyahu was laid to rest at the Ashdod military cemetery. After his fall, he was promoted to corporal, leaving behind two brothers and two sisters. During his service in the battalion he was able to combine Torah study with his professional activities as a soldier.