Ben Talila and Yoel. He was born on March 22, 1957 in Kibbutz Ramat Yochanan. The younger brother of Smadar and Nani (Netanel). A pudgy little boy with a perpetual smile on his face. He grew up in the kibbutz children’s home with the rest of his age, with whom he maintained close contact throughout his life. Despite being a mischievous, rebellious and anti-establishment man, he was able to treat the nannies with dignity and, later, to his teachers. Gil began his elementary studies at the Zevulun elementary school in the Zevulun bloc and went on to high school on Kibbutz Yagur. Gil did not like to study, and especially found it difficult to recognize the importance of humanistic subjects. He spent his time pleasantly with the transistor earphones in his ears and an angelic look on his face that made his new teachers think he was hard of hearing. Gil loved the kibbutz and especially loved the horses. His class teacher says: “He saw himself as a roving cowboy in the fields, swarming cattle and armed with a hunting rifle to smuggle bandits.” Another teacher claims that “Gil was born 80 years too late, and he should have been one of the founders of the Hashomer organization – a belt of bullets across the chest, a rifle on the saddle, and a galloping horse, fighting the Arabs and guarding his property.” Gil was a happy man who knew how to enjoy life. His way of life was simple, real, honest, and peaceful. In his sensitivity, he could appreciate and respect the freedom of others as he wanted them to respect his own. A thoughtful and patient man, devoted to his family, his friends and his kibbutz. In the middle of October 1979, Gil enlisted in the army after serving for a young kibbutz, and began his military career at the flight school, but fell off the track and reached Golani, where he was trained as a soldier. For many years he served as a non-commissioned officer, and he dreamed of returning to the kibbutz and developing beef cattle in the market. Gil returned to Israel for a short period and went back to the United States where he learned horse training. When he returned home, he realized his dream and established his life’s work. Thanks to his approach to animals and his extensive understanding of this field, he was the manager of the cattle industry in the kibbutz and cultivated the horseback riding industry. Over the years he sat down, found his place, and married Belinda, whom he loved with all his soul. Together they began to build their home and planned to expand the family. Gil went to study business administration at the Ruppin Midreshet. Despite his complex attitude to studies, he discovered a wonderful and interesting world and was very successful in the subjects he chose to study. His future seemed promising. He planned to combine his new profession with the establishment and development of a horse riding school on the kibbutz. At the beginning of February 1995, Gil went to reserve duty in the security zone in southern Lebanon, as part of the company he served over the years. On the 13 th of Adar 5755 (February 13, 1995) Gil fell in the line of duty in a Kisufit outpost. He was laid to rest in the Ramat Yohanan cemetery. He was thirty-seven years old when he fell. Survived by a woman in her third month of pregnancy – a son named after his father – Gal, mother, sister and brother. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak wrote: “Gil was a commander-in-command of the ‘Orev’ company of the Carmeli Brigade, the infantry division of a reserve division. Gil was described by his commanders as one of the pillars of the reserve company, a devoted, diligent and friendly soldier who loved to help and assist anyone who was required to do so, and was loved and accepted by his commanders and friends alike. “Gil’s family published a memorial book describing his image and pictures of his life, letters and poems “The smile, the jokes, the walks in the fields, the conversations, the hopes, the honest, confident gaze, the innocence of childhood and the rolling laughter / the power of hope.”I will remember you Gil,” wrote Reuven Azrieli, in the song “Frida”: “To the House of the World in a Last Journey / Friends on the Shoulder / Loads, “And yet another life is spring, and the horizon is wide, and your song is still cheering on life.” “More dreams and hope in Ivan / and the hunger of life in your eyes.
