Keikoff, Raphi

Son of Tzvia and Yehuda. He was born on May 19, 1963 in Ramle. The eldest son of his parents. He began his studies at the Achva Elementary School in Ramle and completed six years of study at the David Raziel Youth Village, where he studied until the eighth grade. He did his high school studies at the Johanna Jabotinsky Youth Village, where he worked in the beehive industry, and was active in the Beitar youth movement and was sent on its behalf to training courses, at the end of which he was chosen as an outstanding trainee. He was active in many circles and involved in activities involving taking responsibility. Alongside his participation in activities such as navigation and shipping, he was also responsible for the pool. Was popular and loved by teachers, counselors and friends and took a central place in the village’s social life. Later his leadership skills began to emerge and he served as chairman of the student council in the village. Rafi was a responsible figure with a spirit of volunteerism, a prominent student with various talents, including a dramatic talent. He was recruited to serve in the IDF at the end of June 1981 and volunteered to serve in the paratroopers, and during the course of his service he participated in the Peace-Galilee War and was proud of the uniform and symbols of the unit as well as the fact that he was a combat soldier. He completed his compulsory army service in July 1984. After completing his compulsory army service in July 1984, he completed his career as a battalion maintenance officer and was transferred to the Armored Corps, completing his service in the army. In the course of his service he served as the commander of a company in the battalion, and reached the rank of major Rafi fell during the performance of his duties on the 9th of Av 5748 (19.7.1988) and was put to rest at the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. He left parents and two sisters – Doris and Revital. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote that Rafi had passed through the paratroopers a special route for the Youth Aliyah and received training from a fighter despite his physical difficulties. “Rafi was one of the few and best among the members of his path … In all the units in which he served as an officer, his human dimensions were conspicuous … He gave his commanders the feeling that there was no task he could not do, all efficiently and wisely. Excellent officer. ” General Matan Vilnai gave the family a certificate of appreciation in his memory. A memorial booklet was published to commemorate his memory. The family commemorated him in a Torah library in the central synagogue in Kiryat son of Gurion in Holon.