Eldar (Dalal), Eitan

Son of Victoria and Nahum, was born on July 20, 1956 in Ra’anana. He completed his elementary studies at the Brenner School in Herzliya, then moved to the ORT vocational school in Herzliya, where he combined electricity studies with theoretical studies. By nature, Eitan was of a quiet, modest, tortured nature, and his goals in life were carefully planned and thought out. He could analyze his steps, examine the possibilities, and draw conclusions about how to act and when to act. Eitan was an outstanding athlete and was part of his school’s handball team. In 1974 he won with his team the Israel High School Championship, and was sent to represent the state of Germany in a competition for school champions. He was a member of the Mahanot Ha’olim youth movement and later served as a counselor. In society he was loved and accepted by his good character and joie de vivre, and by his willingness to always help others, both with advice and with action. His friends would consult him and ask for his opinion. They always turned to him, because they knew that he would find a receptive ear, a willingness and openness, and above all his friends knew that his words were clear, intelligent and exhaustive. Eitan was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of September 1974, and together with his comrades was appointed to serve in the Nahal Brigade. After completing basic training he was sent to Kibbutz Tzuba for a period of thirty-five years, and in August 1975 he completed a course in the Armored Corps and became a gunner in a tank. A fashion house in Tel Aviv, he later became a sales manager and was in charge of the staff, and he married his girlfriend from the days of the youth movement and established a home and family with him as an elderly son, very close to his family, parents and siblings. They gather together for a meal together with the parents, and Eitan adheres to this custom carefully after three years As a young man in Israel, Eytan was also called for periods of reserve service, and he always fulfilled his duty with great devotion and dedication. “When the Peace for Galilee War broke out, Eitan was called to service And he went to fight in Lebanon on June 10, 1982. Eitan was killed in battle in the Lebanon Valley during the war for the Galilee, and was brought to rest in the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul, leaving behind a wife, daughter, Two brothers and two sisters. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “… Eitan was a gunner in my tank, the battalion commander’s tank. He excelled in his duties and was an exemplary staff member. In the training we went through two years ago, Eitan came first in target shooting from all the brigade’s artillery. He went to battle with his hand bandaged and in medical care. He did not consider this a justified reason not to appear on the day of the order. He had a sharp and cool look, which made him an excellent gunner. With his usual courage and serenity, he came under heavy bombardment to identify targets through binoculars, and after identifying them there was no target. This gave security to all the staff … “