Edri, Albert (‘Avi’)

Son of Yitzhak and Zohara. He was born on February 1, 1951, in Casablanca, Morocco. When he was 11 years old, the parents and their seven children immigrated to Israel and settled in Ma’alot in the Galilee. In the Diaspora, Albert managed to study for five years in school. In Israel he continued his elementary studies at the Yahalom School in Ma’alot. Albert, who was nicknamed by the name ‘bar’ or ‘Avi’, was the family’s “good boy” and was proud of her. He was quiet, always busy with his toys, then – in his studies. The studies were all his world. For them he was willing to give up any kind of entertainment. His pleasure was learning, sitting in the library, bending over books. He was a gentle, sensitive boy. He shut himself up hours at home and secretly wrote poems. He had another great love: photographing landscapes. Fridays were sacred for bone-extracting, and playing basketball was his favorite game. After graduating from elementary school, he enrolled in the Yad Natan High School near Acre, which is known for its high level of studies. He chose the biological trend. His high school diploma was excellent. His broad education and knowledge made Avi an authority on every subject, according to which he would take care of everything at home. Every problem faced by the brothers, and also by the father, was brought before him. He found clear solutions for everyone. With his mother a warm mental relationship. My father longed to pursue higher education, but first he had to fulfill his duty to the homeland. In August 1969 he was drafted into the IDF and was assigned to the Armored Corps. He took a commanding course and was promoted to Corporal. Was wounded in the Sinai War of Attrition. A bullet struck his body, an inch from his Lev, but his life was saved. He was sent, on behalf of the army, to the preparatory program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in the fields of statistics and economics. After recovery, he was transferred to the navy. Served as a travel clerk in Sharm el-Sheikh. At the beginning of September 1972, when he was discharged from the army, he was assigned to the Medical Corps as an ambulance driver. My father continued his academic studies at Bar Ilan University, in subjects he began studying in Jerusalem. He had one more year left to obtain a bachelor’s degree in economics, but was forced to go to work and support the family he was about to establish in Ashdod, the city his parents had moved to. He married his choice to a wife and was Simcha. Worked in the Ashdod Port planning department for six months, and then the Yom Kippur War broke out. My father took part in the bitter battles on the canal, crossed it, and did a long service in Fayyad. The close contact with the many victims depressed him. For six months, the war had confined him to the front areas. My father returned to work at the port. His wife became pregnant and Avi wanted to advance the reserve service intended to be at home at birth. And then there was a disaster – he fell in the line of duty. This was on the 8th of Tammuz 5735 (June 16, 1975.) He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Ashdod, leaving behind a wife, parents, four sisters and two brothers, a few months after his death, , And named after him – Avi.