Gafni, Gabriel (Gabi)

Was born on February 19, 1953. In one year, he was sick with polio, due to his illness, his left hand remained paralyzed, but despite his disability, he functioned well and progressed with the children and the school. He studied at the Agron and Yefe Nof elementary schools, and since then he has continued his studies at the Brandeis Professional School, where he completed his high school studies in electronics. He tried to help with the housework and the garden, and helped the children who had difficulty in their studies. After graduating from high school, he joined the “Mahanot Ha’olim” movement and was elected to a delegation to France, organized by the Jerusalem Municipality, as part of a youth exchange project. As a result of his disability, he was able to relieve himself and relieve himself of his compulsory service, but he did not want to be an exceptional boy. On 7.11.1971 he enlisted in the IDF and served in the Signal Corps as an electronics technician, completing several courses and excelling in them.In March 1973, Gabi rose to the rank of Corporal, and at the end of that year rose to the rank of sergeant. In the Yom Kippur War he served on the southern front, on the first line along the canal. He even crossed the canal and served at the airport in Fayd. In October 1974, Gaby moved to the rank of sergeant and continued to serve in the career army until he was released in November 1975. “In advance of his release, the commander of his unit expressed his opinion:” Gabi is an excellent professional, with a developed sense of responsibility, overcoming problems. Thanks to his resourcefulness and initiative, he is doing his job best. “After leaving the IDF, Gabi began studying at the University of Haifa. He then moved to the Negev University in Be’er Sheva. Thanks to his grades, he received scholarships and graduated from the university with the title of Electronics Engineer. After completing his studies he went to Australia and worked there for half a year. He returned to Israel and worked as an engineer at the Telrad factory in Lod. He invested all his energy and talent in his work. When the Peace for Galilee War broke out, Gabi was drafted into reserve duty. His sensitive soul was deeply impressed by the landscapes he had seen in Lebanon and he had taken many pictures of them. Gabi was assigned to the headquarters company. After he fell, his commander told him: “Gabi, as a unique professional, was not recruited with his battalion, but was assigned to the professional unit, where he worked in the command company. At the end of the fighting, Gabi, who was about to be released, volunteered and made sure that the tools were returned to their fitness On the 29.5.1983, Gabi drove in Lebanon, And he was killed, with the camera that accompanied him throughout his service in Lebanon, where he was at the age of 30. Defense Minister Moshe Arens wrote to his parents: “Gabriel served in an intelligence unit in the Signal Corps. He was a unique professional, volunteered for every mission, was a model friend and liked everyone he knew. “Gabi was laid to rest on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem and left behind his parents, brother and sister