Ben Shimon, Baruch
Ben Gilda and Emil. Born on the 29th of Iyar 5742 (29.4.1972) in Safed. Baruch studied at the Jacob Tobias State Elementary School, continuing his studies in middle school and Amal high school, where he completed 12th grade in the theoretical-humanistic track. During his high school years, he stood out among his friends in his ability to play and his ability to entertain. His friends and teachers from the period of his studies remember him as an active young man with a spirit of volunteerism. His teacher, Esther Shapira, notes in his letter to his memory his ability to memorize and imitate entire scenes from films and plays, his friendly attitude toward his colleagues, his joy of life and his ability to make everyone laugh. Baruch was a member of the Hehalutz youth movement and was active in voluntary activities for the community. He volunteered for the Civil Guard and received recognition for his work in this framework. At the time of the National Service in the Beit She’an region, he was an outstanding trainee. He loved riding and was an assistant to a guide on horseback riding. He also participated in show-riding shows and appeared before a large audience in the rodeo. Baruch enlisted in the IDF in July 1990 and volunteered to serve in the Samson undercover unit, which was active in locating and capturing terrorists in the Gaza Strip, and was found to be a fighter with initiative, resourcefulness and joy of life on the day of Adar 5752 (5.3.1992). Baruch participated with his unit in an operation to capture armed terrorists south of the village of Bani Suheila in the Khan Yunis area. The terrorists hid in a group of buildings that the force had combed. Baruch, who was at the head of the intruding force, was hit by a series of shots fired by one of the terrorists from close range and killed. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Safed. Survived by his parents, two brothers – Asher and Uri and her sister Nechama. After his fall he was promoted to sergeant. In a letter of condolence to the family, Defense Minister Moshe Arens wrote that Baruch “was one of the best fighters in the unit and performed every task assigned to him with dedication and devotion. His commander wrote that he was “part of a group of fighters, engaged in a difficult and complicated war, which involves great tension and strength of the soul, which no one can withstand.” The family published a booklet in his memory. She also dedicated a Torah scroll in his name in a synagogue in Safed. Every year there is a competition in his memory “Running in the Footsteps of Fighters”.
