Cohen, Mordechai (Moti)

Son of Rachel and David. He was born on the 3rd of Adar 5766 (March 3, 1966) in Ashkelon, as the eldest son of his parents. He attended Assaf Elementary School in Ashkelon. Moti was discovered by his educators and teachers as a talented and ambitious child, who was thirsty to learn, and at their recommendation he moved to the “Kiryat No’ar” High School in Jerusalem. After graduating from high school, he continued to study at the School of Practical Engineers at Kiryat Youth, in the framework of the Technological Reserve. He was quiet and modest and yet friendly and active. As his educator says: “Moti z” l loved people. In his own way he did it, with humility and indescribable indignity, his speech was calm and moderation, he treated honor and love in each and every one. “The Rosh Yeshiva says:” Now that there is a great gap left in the group because Moti used to organize a minyan for prayer, , And draws soldiers to holiness. “” Moti’s character throughout his studies in the youth camp was the quiet prominence. “Moti also devoted his free time to hiking, and mountain adventures and landscapes of the Land of Israel were among the things that excited him. He was a member of the Reut Circle in Ashkelon, a group that combined social life with religious life and was one of its most prominent activists, and was drafted into the IDF in mid-May 1986, Graduate studies in the technological reserve. He completed a professional training course at the Air Force Technical School, and was later assigned to the Air Force Unit in the south of Israel as an aircraft engine mechanic. Moti was highly respected by his commanders, and even received an outstanding soldier’s certificate. His personal file states that he was “the mainstay of his department, a talented soldier, devoted and capable of organization and management.” He was a candidate for officer training and continued command in the air force, but a heavy disaster interrupted him. On the 28th of Tishrei 5749 (September 28, 1988) in the area of ​​Nahal Yehudia in the Golan Heights, Moti fell during his service and was brought to eternal rest in the military cemetery in Ashkelon. Survived by his parents and seven brothers and sisters – Yechiel, Shlomo, Yehuda, Havatzelet, Sharon, Benjamin and Sarit. In a letter of condolences to the family, the commander of the base said: “Mordechai was one of our best soldiers. “Anita, his girlfriend, told Reut:” The calmness and security with which he behaved, even in difficult situations, and the smile on his face always attested to the extent of his faith and his confidence in him “His family published a book in his memory entitled” Even if I go in the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear evil. “In addition, his parents set up a Torah library in his memory in the Joseph Kruani Synagogue In a poem written in memory of his brother Benjamin: “Moti was a golden Lev / There was no one who did not love you / My brother, my brother is missing me very much / Without I would not be able to learn / Torah and prophets You learned in secret / And your Torah is not known to others / To the synagogue you would stand up / And you would not wait for everyone / Before the Lord of the Universe / You were begging / Respecting your parents / “We shall not forget, and we shall not forget.”