Graifman, Abraham

My father, son of Miriam and Joseph, was born on 14 July 1954 in Rishon Letzion. He studied at Gordon Elementary School and continued his studies at the ORT vocational high school in Givatayim. My father was born into a family that lived Zionism and fulfilled it in practice. His father immigrated to Israel in 1925 from Poland and served in the British Army during World War II and in the Givati ​​Brigade during the War of Independence. His mother immigrated to Israel from Egypt in 1946. It is not surprising, therefore, that from childhood he absorbed in his parents’ home the love of the Land of Israel, its landscapes, and its people. My father loved going on trips and trips around the country and there were not many places he did not visit. He particularly loved the trips that included long journeys and thus learned to love the country “through his feet” walking in its paths. He was a tall, handsome-looking boy who aroused an impression of naivete and naivete among his peers. Those who knew him well noticed that it was only an external impression. My father was a clever, sharp boy who did everything in a thorough, responsible and dedicated manner. Though somewhat shy, he was loved by his friends and friends and they used to come to be with him for as many hours as possible. My father was a diligent student, full of energy and enthusiasm, and when he spoke of a topic close to his Lev, one could sense how much he was in his head and most of it. He would speak enthusiastically and his eyes would shine and shine. His friends remember how he would suddenly appear, Simcha and cheerful, and say with a big smile on his face: “I have a few hours, you have to do something nice.” He was always busy with something. He could not sit still, always wanted to try new things, always wanted new experiences. By nature, he had an optimistic attitude toward a life that believed in goodness and beauty. True, he knew that ugliness was the most negative. But believed that in everything, in every person and in every act, one could discover something of the good; One has only to seek and find. My father used to talk about the future and all the good it contained. He had an excellent sense of humor and was “the audience favorite” at every party and social event, and friends would gather around him and enjoy his wit. Already in the days of the school, he discovered talents for painting and handicrafts, and he worked to develop them. He painted a lot, built models of airplanes and tanks, and even managed to build his own stereo system for his home. He was blessed with “golden hands” and in everything he did he succeeded. He was punctual and meticulous at work and did not leave anything that was not carefully completed, to the fullest detail. My father had a rich and fruitful relationship with his parents. Their ties were very close and based on love and mutual respect. He took great care of their dignity and always took their wishes and feelings into account. When he was away from home, he always made sure to write or telephone and announce his whereabouts. When he was about to join the army, he decided to follow his brother, Baruch, who was a squad commander in the Shaked Reconnaissance Unit, and volunteered for a combat unit. After completing his basic training, he completed a course in the Armored Corps. He completed it with great success and was assigned to a field unit of the Armored Corps in the form of a contact. His commanders regarded him as a brave and devoted soldier who was trying to do his best. He had studied the tank systems he was in charge of and knew how to operate them quickly and skillfully. He always did his work willingly and diligently and never heard complaints from anyone. During the Yom Kippur War, Avi participated in the braking battles against the Egyptians in the southern sector of the Suez Canal. In a battle that took place on October 6, 1973, Avi escaped in his tank to help a tank that had been hit, and a mortar bomb hit a tank and Avi was killed on the spot. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. Survived by his parents and two brothers.