Brahom, Ephraim

Efraim was born in July 1948 in Baghdad, Iraq, and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1950. He attended elementary school in Petach Tikva and then completed his studies at the Amal vocational high school in Petach Tikva. Effi was a talented and intelligent student, diligent and industrious. He was blessed with good intelligence and excelled in the work, especially in the field of instrumentation, where he completed his high school studies. His main hobby was also in the field of weaving: weaving pictures according to original examples of his own. He also devoted his spare time to building models of airplanes, “houses” of matches and the like. He was active in the Gadna even after school and participated in marches, and was always willing to help others, always seeking challenges and striving to continue his way of life. Ephraim was drafted into the IDF in early August 1967 and assigned to the Armored Corps. After completing basic training and completing his course in the Patton tank course and the Patton tank commanders course, he was appointed commander of a tank unit that participated in the fierce battles of attrition on the banks of the Suez Canal. He loved army life and excelled in his resourcefulness and responsibility. His commanders testified that he was devoted to his tank crew and his comrades in arms. Throughout his army service he tried not to worry his parents and was careful to write home to prevent them from feeling sorry for his safety. After completing his regular service and leaving for civilian life, he was called for periods of reserve service in the position of sergeant-sergeant. He also excelled in generosity and in many cases agreed to give up vacations for married friends and family members. Ephraim began working for El Al in the hydraulics area, where he paid his work. His co-workers told him that he stood out from above because of his responsibility, his efficiency, and his diligence. In October 1973, a few days before the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, he successfully passed examinations for the position of responsible for the entire department of El Al, but did not win the post. Two months before the outbreak of the war, he married his girlfriend Carmela. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Effie was sent with his unit to the Suez Canal front. He participated in the bitter battles against the Egyptians and on the night of 19 Tishrei 5734 (15.10.1973), on the night of the breakthrough to the West Bank of the Canal, his tank was hit in a battle on the spider-lexicon axis. At first, his body was not found and he was declared missing. In February 1974, his wife and parents were informed of his downfall and he was brought to rest in the Kiryat Shaul cemetery, in a mass grave with his tank crew. Survived by a wife, mother, brother and sister. After his fall, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. His parents donated a Torah scroll to his memory.