Franco, Rachamim

Rahamim, son of Madeline and Shimon, was born in Congo on 24 January 1954. His father was a member of Machal who volunteered for the IDF during the War of Independence and took part in the conquest of Be’er Sheva. His parents and Rahamim moved to a boarding school in South Africa where he was educated for three years and was a very gifted youngster, loved by his friends and fluent in many languages. Rabbi Rahamim maintained contacts with many young people from various countries he met during his stay He was very aware of the problems of the country, was interested in what was going on in the kibbutz and decided to call the place, where he worked in a workshop for fixing air conditioners and refrigerators, and his hobby was collecting coins and playing chess. At the beginning of January 1972, he joined the paratroopers. Rahamim completed his basic training successfully, was wearing a paratrooper’s wings, and since he showed training and commanding skills, he was sent to a squad commanders’ course, and was not the commander of a squad he loved, but he was one of the guys. And was one of the first to pass the western side of the Suez Canal, saying that Rahamim had only one desire: “I do not want anything. Only to return to the agriculture, “he always said, but his hope was not fulfilled: On the tenth day of Cheshvan 5737 (November 10, 1973), he was pitied in a battle in Sinai and was buried in the cemetery in Kibbutz Afikim, Sister and adoptive parents in Israel. After his fall, he was promoted to First Sergeant. In a letter of condolence to then-defense minister Moshe Dayan, it was said: “Sergeant Rishon Rachamim Franco gave his life for his homeland … He was an excellent soldier and a devoted friend. Mercy was loved by everyone they knew. The memory of our first sergeant, Rahamim Franco, is sacred and we were proudly crowned in our hearts. “