Son of Menashe and Ruth. He was born on April 13, 1952 in Petah Tikva. At the age of five he was circumcised by his mother and, after her death, was transferred for a while to Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu to his uncle’s family. Since then he has spent almost every vacation from his studies in the kibbutz. He called the agriculture and the way of life of the religious kibbutz. Raphi grew up in a free house, but when he defined himself as religious, he fulfilled all his duties unconditionally, as he did everything he believed in, wholeheartedly and uncompromisingly. He studied at the Bar-Ilan religious school in Tel Aviv and later studied biology at the Tel Aviv Municipal High School (“Zeitlin”). He was a member of the “Bnei Akiva” movement and dedicated his time and energy to it. As the spirit of the north Tel Aviv branch was the leader of the boys, was a subject of admiration and imitation and his friends called him “tour guide,” “Lev of gold.” From his childhood, he has distinguished himself in virtues: respect for parents and family, love of the land and of humanity, vigor, depth of thought, activity and industriousness. After becoming Bar Mitzvah, his personality crystallized with astonishing speed. He grew up, became serious, reasonable and healthy. He had a practical sense, a sense of orientation, and a sense of perception. In most of his activities he did not spend much time at home. He was always at the movement’s branch, on the kibbutz, or on a trip. He was strong in spirit and disciplined, adhering to ideals and demanding fulfillment. On the outside he tried to present a rigid character, but those who knew him knew he had a gentle soul. He loved justice, hated quarrel, wanted to help others, but did not like helping him and trying to do everything himself. He had a lot of personal charm and excelled in a direct and simplistic approach to matters and never got into trouble. He was devoted to his family and never gave up attending a family event (joy, sick or mourning) that was unusual for young people. He moved away from the glittering and loved the simplicity, which was also conspicuous in his clothing. His high school teacher wrote about Rafi’s willingness to help others: “In the ninth grade, he had to regularly help a disabled friend in a certain profession, which he kept during his high school years and under all conditions.” On every occasion he expressed his opinion condemning the pursuit of luxury. On the excessive demands of certain circles in Israeli society would say: “It is precisely for them that the limitations of the country struggling for its security must be clear and they should serve as an example for others.” He acquired extensive knowledge in the field of natural sciences and was a member of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. He liked to travel and learn to know the country in this way. His serious attitude to the issue of the protection of nature was discussed in a booklet published in his memory on the day of the Thirty, which read: “There was no corner that Rafi did not want her stone and grazed Ofra.” He was an outstanding athlete and achieved great achievements in almost all branches of light athletics, especially in high jump and basketball. He represented the high school in many sports competitions and received many certificates. Moro for gymnastics wrote about him: “He was the backbone of the volleyball team, breathed life into everything, – – faithful to fair play rules, considerate his friends.” His girlfriend wrote: “In training before competitions, a large crowd would gather to see the elegance with which they performed the activities in light athletics, especially in high jump.” Rafi was invited to a youth team in Tel Aviv in the volleyball game, practiced it, but finally abandoned it because of the fear of Saturday desecration when the team went abroad. Rafi was drafted into the IDF in early January 1971. He hoped to join one of the elite units that had farmers, but to his disappointment he was given a low profile due to two chronic health problems, and tried again to convince the doctors that he had combat capability and finally agreed, But for only eleven months he managed to serve in a commando unitAnd there was an increase. On the 24th of Tevet 5772 (10.1.1972) he fell in battle in a raid on a terrorist base and was taken to eternal rest at the Sde Eliyahu cemetery. The commander of his unit wrote to his family in a letter of condolence: “Rafi your son, our friend, was one of the best soldiers in our army. The commander of his company wrote: “During the basic training period, his commanders noticed that he would be one of us, and that his ability to withstand the difficult physical efforts with a constant smile on his lips, always trying to help and encourage his friends, During the long navigational period, many soldiers expressed their desire to be in his cell, and his many knowledge of nature and knowledge of the country made his navigation journeys full of content and interest. Already in this early period of his service I hoped that the island squad graduation he went to officers’ course and return as commander of the unit – – – As tension mounted on the Lebanese border, was assigned to the unit to carry out a raid on a terrorist base in southern Lebanon, and it was clear that leaving is the first pitches. On the eve of my departure, during the last inspection, I asked him if he was ready and in his usual laugh he replied: “Of course, there are no problems.” In the place where the unit left for action, between Moshav Avivim and Kibbutz Yiron, its members planted a hand in his memory: They planted nineteen cypresses (a number of years of his life) and a carved wooden trunk with a copper plaque bearing his name, place and date of his fall. Righteousness and speaking straight “” He is deceived and will dwell from the boulders of the rocks; His name was commemorated on the monument to the fallen paratroopers, which was erected on the road to Rehovot-Gedera. On the day of the “Thirty”, a booklet was published in his memory, “Rafi Dotan,” and a flyer of the students of the Municipal High School, “Zeitlin”, “Zeraim” (“Zeitlin”) in the nature room of the Municipal High School in Tel Aviv (“Zeitlin”), a stuffed coffin used for natural studies at the school, and a memorial corner was dedicated to the north Tel Aviv branch of Bnei Akiva.
