Hoffman, Avikam (Avi) Reuven
Ben Yaffa Gal and Silvio Arbel. He was born on July 19, 1975 in Jerusalem. Itai’s younger brother and Maya. My father grew up and was educated in the French Hill neighborhood. He began his studies at the “Janusz Korczak” elementary school and went on to the Rene Cassan High School, where he studied in the social program. During his studies he participated in the school delegation to France. From his youth, my father stood out as a leader and a social man. He played in the basketball team of the Rene Cassan School, was a counselor in the Omer tribe of the Scouts movement and volunteered for MDA, and during his free time he liked to dance and listen to music. He completed his basic training course as an outstanding soldier and underwent various courses, including the APC course, and after being trained as a combat soldier, my father was stationed in the Golani Brigade. In his last position, he served as a battalion machine gunner and served in the “Barak” battalion of the Golani Brigade. Despite the short period in which he managed to serve in the battalion – only two weeks – he was well received and prominent as a dominant and beloved figure. His commanders were impressed by his professional ability, his high level of motivation and his inclination to help others and expect him to have a bright future as an officer. On August 3, 1994, my father fell in the line of duty in the area of the Taibeh post in southern Lebanon. When he approached the gas pump, he noticed the commander of his armored personnel carrier, Sergeant Eran Hodda, who was hit in the head by a high voltage line and electrocuted to death. My father tried to save his friend, but was also electrocuted and killed. Four other soldiers were injured when they tried to help their friends. My father was laid to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. He was not yet nineteen when he fell. Survived by parents, sister and brother. After his death he was promoted to sergeant. The commander of the Barak Battalion, in which my father served, wrote to his family in a condolence letter: “Avikam arrived at the battalion from the brigade training base and after finishing his training as an outstanding combat soldier was stationed at the company of the Barak Battalion. To an officer in the company of the rifle company, all of whom were cut off while they were still in the air, when he jumped to rescue his friend. ” After the disaster, many articles were published in the press describing the disaster and the subsequent investigation. My father’s family commemorated the establishment of a science room at the Korczak elementary school where he had studied in his youth.
