Excuse me, Zechariah

Son of Tzvia and Chaim. He was born on April 16, 1952, in Ramle. His parents immigrated from Yemen and settled in Ramle, where Zacharia completed his studies at the Bilu Elementary School and at the Bedek High School in Lod, where he enlisted in regular service in early 1970. After undergoing basic training he was placed in the Air Force and underwent a series of professional courses, He completed his regular army service, joined the ranks of the career army, retired for one year from the army and continued to serve in the reserves, and in October 1977 he returned to the regular army and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. His commanders noted him as a “high-level professional, with the potential to be an officer, fulfilling his role in faith and giving his place of work.” In 1978 he married Rachel and the couple had a son and a daughter. Zecharia loved life in the framework of his family. He helped others wherever he was, and during his free time he liked to read books, do carpentry and play backgammon. During a backgammon game, while serving in a training unit, he was urgently called to receive blood test results, and from that day, 13.9.1984, he was frequently hospitalized at Assaf Harofeh Hospital. Zechariah stubbornly fought his illness and once said: “I will overcome the disease and it is not on me.” But the illness was stronger than him and after ten difficult months, on the day of the 9th of Av 5745 (21.7.1985), Zachariah died and the next day he was laid to rest in the military section of the cemetery in his home town of Ramle, ), Daughter of Dganit, parents, two brothers, Uzi and Zohar, and two sisters, Yona and Eitzit. They knew who he was, and that was his nickname. He accompanied everything with a smile, even in the difficult moments. Always optimistic. “His son, Raziel, gave his bar mitzvah words he wrote in memory of his father:” For a few years I grew up with him and their contribution is great, / years in which I remember a loved and noble figure. / Humble and answered with a smile on his lips, / as a great military man, strong and broad shoulders. / And when he carried me on his shoulders there was a loud laugh, and in front of all the friends in the garden, Baba would be proud. He gave me warmth and affection, and with great patience sat with me and taught me how to read and write. / Five Yaffa years you must not forget, / for they have given me the will and power. / To learn and to be educated and to want to prove, / that on solid foundations I grew up and that I will succeed in them. / And the light of this candle will testify, / that the memory of Father with us always “