Cohen, Raphael

Raphael was born in 1947 in Rabat, Morocco, from where he immigrated to Israel with his family in 1955 when he completed his basic education at the school. He later went on to study and acquired a profession at the “Miften” vocational school, where his family and close friends called him a cheerful, alert child, whose eyes were open to everything around him and his ears always tuned in to absorb new things. The family was housed in a small apartment that did not leave enough room for all its children. They were encouraged by the desire to study and were diligent and diligent, received all the help they could, encouraged him in times of crisis, and made sure that he did not give up and continue with his studies. He was able to invest in studies and to work hard, and despite the conditions that made it difficult for him, he managed to get into the vocational school, a framework trend, and to finish his studies successfully.was a kind and cordial boy who was blessed with the ability to communicate easily with people. He also had a sense of humor and was always able to tell jokes that made all his friends laugh. Thanks to his easy nature he bought friends and his house was full of friends who wanted his closeness. He knew how to listen to people with great attention. It was nice to be with him and he had friends who loved to spend hours with him. He was very fond of sports and was not only an avid fan of football players, he also played in the neighborhood. There were games that did not miss the world, and he was ready to go and go great distances to see them. He would organize friends from the neighborhood and everyone would go together to watch the game of the admirable group. Strong and deep connections were also made between him and the rest of the family. He lived in a cohesive, sympathetic family that was able to give a feeling of a caring and understanding home. Raphael was very attached to his family and his great pleasure was to spend time with the family. The commandment to respect a father and mother was a right and not a duty, and he was careful to fill it and was very careful in the dignity of his parents and older siblings. His brothers were his best and most intimate friends. The first separation from the house for a long period only took place when the time for conscription began. Rafael was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in early February 1965. After completing basic training, he was trained as a combat engineering fighter, and was trained in the field of the Engineering Corps, and before the end of his regular service, He was a fighter in the Sinai and was a good warrior who could always be relied on, and he was very fond of all those who knew him, and he loved his commanders and comrades-in-arms. He worked in his profession as a locksmith and soon became very successful and decided to marry his girlfriend. On 7 Cheshvan 5734 (2/11/1973), he participated in the fierce battles that took place in the Sinai and the daring breakout battles across the Suez Canal to the West Bank and in that battle he fell. He was buried in the military cemetery in Beer Sheva, leaving behind a wife and son, parents and nine brothers.