Elbaz, Rafael (Rafi)

Son of Jacqueline and Pinchas was born on 19.11.1960 in Fez, Morocco, where he began his studies in a Jewish elementary school. In 1967 Rafi immigrated to Israel and settled with his family in Jerusalem. He continued his studies, first at the Chabad school, and then completed his high school studies at the Jerusalem youth center, and in February 1979 he joined the IDF. Because of health problems he had, Rafi was stationed in a rear unit and served as a clerk in the Jerusalem City Officer’s Unit. He took a clerk-warehouse course and a driving course and excelled in his position in the office. On August 3, 1981, Rafi drove a military vehicle on the Jerusalem-Ramle road, and was hit by a truck in front of Moshav Yad Rambam. Rafi was killed. He was 20 when he died. He was laid to rest on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. He left behind his parents, three brothers and three sisters. In his name, holy books were purchased in the synagogue of the Moroccan immigrants in Gilo, where he used to pray. “We all remember Rafi as a soldier and as a beloved friend of all of us, because he is most devoted to his commanders and friends, because of his willingness to volunteer and to help every soldier in the unit, whether through work help or by changing shifts,” the commander of his unit told his family. We believe that thanks to the education you have given Rafi, and in light of his path, he has given us a way of life that should be emulated. “