Gramai, Shigdav (Shai)

Son of Escabo and Eshto. Was born on January 1, 1972 in Ethiopia, where he grew up and was educated. Shigdev-Shai was the second son among eight brothers and sisters. He did a great deal of sports and, in his youth, volunteered for various public activities for the community. A good-hearted and quiet guy, loved and accepted by his friends and all his surroundings. In 1990 he immigrated to Israel alone and joined the Ayyun Boarding School. His family immigrated to Israel a few years later and settled in Lod. At the beginning of November 1993 Shay joined the IDF and joined the second scouts course that was opened to Ethiopian immigrants, and was awarded certificates of appreciation for helping to capture terrorists who escaped from the prison facility. “Since his return to the army and served in Gaza as a tracker, my mother did not sleep at night because of worry,” says his brother. He loved the service in Gaza and always tried to calm Mom. “He had plans to start a family:” He was planning to marry his girlfriend, “his brother said, adding that he had not had time to know his Lev’s choice for his parents. 22.11.2002) Shai fell in combat activity near Gush Katif at the age of 30. Yevgeny, the driver of the force, recounted the incident: “We were on a routine patrol near Tel-Katifa. An officer, a soldier, and an infantryman walked along the route and I waited for them with the jeep. Suddenly we heard shots. I drove quickly and stopped next to Shai, who was seriously wounded. “Immediately after the shooting, an IDF force ran after the terrorist who was hiding in the greenhouse area. The soldiers identified him, opened fire and wounded him, but the terrorist managed to escape. At the same time, Shai, who was critically wounded in the neck, began to be treated, but he died of his wounds a few minutes later. Shai was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Lod. Survived by his parents and seven brothers and sisters: Gitnet, Edna, Military, Malko, Ambachow, Allyn and Tebin. After his death he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. Shai’s brother-in-law eulogized him: “Shai was the kind of person everyone loved to be with, he was the good boy of the house.” (This page is part of the Yizkor memorial project held by the Ministry of Defense)