Eliav, Ran-Haim

Ran, son of Zahara and Ezra, was born on November 8, 1954, in Kibbutz Mahanayim. When Ran was a year old, his family moved to Haifa and after two years moved to Jerusalem. In 1960 the family returned to Haifa and Ran attended the “Reali” school. In 1968, the family moved to Be’er Sheva, and Ran continued his high school studies at the Himmelfarb High School in Be’er Sheva. Everywhere Ran was quickly absorbed into the new company and was happily accepted. At school he was a good and quick learner, but he learned his way: he was interested in and excelled in subjects that interested him, and simply did not relate to subjects he did not care about. He had never been a diligent man, but according to his friends, he had a great intellectual openness and was prominent in his broad education. Ran has shown interest and knowledge in Israel’s history and in many areas of social, political, military and other problems. In Haifa Ran was a member of the Scouts movement and in Be’er Sheva he was active and a leader in the Negev Nitzanei tribe. Here too, as in any other activity, he devoted himself to the tribe with all his might and enthusiasm. Ran liked music, especially folk music and jazz; He would devote many hours to listening to records and even write a Yaffa work in the history of jazz as part of his art studies at the school. He was also an art lover, wrote poems and read a lot. He was an excellent athlete, loved animals, especially dogs, and knew the flora and fauna in Israel. He loved the country and organized a lot of hiking trips for him and his friends. Ran wanted to be the best in what he did. He was always at the center of the activity and liked to attract attention. He initiated actions and took part in every mischief he encountered. In general, Elem was cheerful, awake and full of joy. He ridiculed everything and killed “sacred cows” with terrible jokes and laughter. Yet he was very serious and sensitive. His eyes were open to beauty and he had a very developed sense of justice. He was kind, loving a man, a good friend and loyal to his friends. Even though he was pessimistic, he knew how to find the best and the most Yaffa in life. He had a philosophy of life of his own and he argued a lot, because he wanted to change things. For a while he took part in the activities of the Gesher movement for religious and secular outreach. He was a thoughtful man. Even though many recognized him as self-assured without hesitation, and even as a “cockroach.” Ran was a good son to his parents, very proud of them and closely connected to his mother. He was a devoted brother to his younger brother, and when their father was away from home he advised his brother on various matters and tried to fill the father’s place. Ran was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in February 1973 and volunteered to serve in an elite infantry unit in the infantry, and was disappointed in the attitude toward soldiers and especially from various phenomena which he believes have no place in the army. After completing basic training he was placed in the Sinai as a rifleman in a unit of the Sayeret units, and then he underwent a course for special equipment operators, while waiting for a vacation in which he could travel and visit his parents who were on a mission to Italy , And then thought to take a course When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Renn and his unit in Sinai took part in the battles and on the 18th of Tishrei 5734 (18.10.1973), during an operation in the Chinese Farm, was mortally wounded in the stomach, evacuated and died of his wounds on Friday Tishrei 5734 (October 22, 1973.) He was laid to rest in the cemetery in Be’er Sheva, leaving behind his parents and brother, and after being killed he was promoted to the rank of corporal.