Eilon (Pasternak), Haim

Haim, son of Roth and Benjamin Ze’ev, was born on the 16th of Shevat 5709 (16.2.1949) in Tel Aviv. Chaim was drafted into the IDF in August 1966 following the rejection of his application, academic and volunteered in the Armored Corps. After completing basic training, he completed a tank commander course and completed a course for tank commanders and an officer’s course (with excellent grades) and was sent to serve in the 7th Brigade. Chaim was responsible and dedicated to his job, accepted by his commanders and subordinates. After three years he was released from regular service. His efforts to get to the medical school at Tel Aviv University (due to the small number of places) failed and Chaim had to travel to Bologna, Italy, and study there. He spent three years in Bologna and was one of the outstanding students. Haim was a central figure among the members of the Israeli colony in the city and everyone admired him. But not only them; Thanks to his light and friendly attitude to the people, he also earned many admirers from among the foreign students. At that time he wrote many letters home and shared his family experiences and events. Three years later he returned to Israel and applied for admission to continue his studies in Tel Aviv. Thanks to his good grades, his request was accepted and he was accepted. During that period of his life, he played tennis and was a regular member of Hapoel Tel Aviv. During the fourth and fifth years he worked at Ichilov Hospital (in the Department of Pathology) and in the intensive care unit of the Beilinson Hospital. Chaim devoted himself entirely to work and invested his whole soul in it. The doctors of the departments he worked in were sparing no praise from them for talking about his work. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, many of his fellow students enlisted in the medical corps, but Chaim, convinced that the Armored Corps would serve his country well, persistently demanded that they join him in his unit. Haim was assigned to the 7th Brigade, which was facing the Syrian attack on the Golan Heights. His comrades-in-arms know how Chaim, who was older than most of his soldiers, took care of all their needs, knew how to relieve them of combat distress and often during times of calm in the battle. On the 19th of Tishrei 5734 (October 19, 1973), Lieutenant Haim fell in battle in the Golan Heights, near the village of El Abas. A missile fired by the Syrians hit him while he was standing in a tank. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. Survived by his parents and brother.