Bilkis, Aryeh

Son of Yehudit and Uziel. Born in Holon on Yom Kippur, 10th of Tishrei, 5769 (26.9.1974), a young brother of Ilanit, Aryeh began his studies at the Neot Shoshanim elementary school in Holon, attended junior high school for “Bnei Akiva” And from there he continued to the “Kiryat Youth” high school in Jerusalem, where he studied mechanics, and spent his free time distributing social activities to the Bnei Akiva youth movement, volunteering for the needy, visiting the sick and nursing the elderly. After undergoing training in basic training, he was accepted into the technological reserve and his service was postponed for two years, in order to continue his studies in the “Youth Camp” R engineer, and the trend of change of control and automation. After completing his studies he returned to service and in June 1994 Arie joined the Air Force and served as a machine engineer. During these months he participated in a series of professional training courses as part of his position and was authorized to carry out a non-destructive operation. At the same time, he made the decision to go to the officers’ course, and he began to conduct tests of suitability and interviews to fulfill his wishes. In his unit they found it hard to give him up and asked him to continue his work as an engineer and refused to leave for an appointment later, but Aryeh insisted on realizing his dream of becoming an officer as quickly as possible. In July 1995 he went on to a basic officers’ course and graduated with high grades and with great success the course for three officers. In April 1996 Arie was appointed liaison officer for the Ashdod sub-district of the Home Front Command and was stationed at the Lachish camp. After his absorption in the unit, his commander wrote about him in the periodic assessment: “A new officer with the ability and motivation to fulfill his duties very well.” “From my personal acquaintance with him, I know that he is a very responsible and thorough guy, loved by his commanders, subordinates and even the reservists with whom he is in contact.” In the last days of his life, Aryeh was busy with organizing a sports day for the Paratroopers. As an avid sports fan himself, he invested his best energies in concentrating this day. Arieh fell in the course of his duties, on the 23rd of Av 5756 (8.8.1996). He was killed in a car accident at the Amatzia junction, when he made his way from his base to a preparatory meeting in the Home Front Command, in preparation for the day of team sports. He was twenty-two years old when he fell. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Holon. Survived by his parents, sister and grandmother. After his death Aryeh was promoted to lieutenant. The commander of the unit wrote to his family: “Aryeh served in the district as a liaison officer for the Ashdod region for about four months, and during his service in the district, Aryeh was discovered as an intelligent, talented, disciplined, modest and pleasant officer, Hundreds of reserve soldiers, ready to help and help with any problem. ” His family commemorated the donation of a calendar for the counting of the Omer, holy books, Chumashim, Machzorim and arrangements for the Heichal Raphael synagogue in Holon, where he used to pray. His name was also immortalized in the memorial room at the “youth camp,” where Aryeh studied and was educated, and the establishment of a charity fund named after him, which helps needy students complete their studies.