Leibowitz, Shlomo
Son of Ephraim and Miriam. He was born on July 23, 1956, in Rehovot. It was a year of reprisals and Operation Kadesh. The father was drafted, and the mother remained alone in a lonely house among orchards, with a one-year-old baby, without electricity and without neighbors. He studied at Smilansky Elementary School in Rehovot. At home, Father absorbed love for the homeland and respect for tradition, and therefore devoted his time to study Torah and Talmud. In the library in his home he found the writings of the forefathers of Zionism and he read them eagerly and formulated a clear national outlook. This view led him, at the age of 14, to decide to choose his career as a professional military route. This decision contributed to the Six-Day War, which left its mark on the young and sensitive soul and from which he learned that only a cohesive army can save Israel from the dangers that lie ahead and preserve peace. In order to realize his mission, Shlomo was enrolled in the military boarding school next to the Herzliya high school in Tel Aviv. This did not surprise his friends, who recognized him as an outstanding athlete, used to play football with him, compete in races, ride a bike and also play chess. They knew that Shlomo was a courageous guy with a great physical ability and high intellect. They also valued the rest of his virtues-his modesty, his mental maturity, his cleverness, and his manners and politeness. Shlomo’s extraordinary success at the military boarding school will testify, along with the high grades, the words of appreciation that accompanied the graduation certificate: “An outstanding trainee with a very high level of organization and initiative, a very good example of self-discipline and leadership. His character is critical and acute. ” At the end of October 1974, Shlomo was drafted into regular service. He was successful at every stage of his military career. He volunteered to serve in a paratroopers’ unit, he did the parachuting course while he was at the military boarding school. He also participated in various professional courses. In the course of the brigade commanders, which ended in April 1975, he received a total grade of 92, and in a course for the infantry officers of the Suez Canal, which included a total of 95. When he was awarded the rank of lieutenant, He was discharged before him and he signed a regular service for a longer period than usual. Every task assigned to him was complete. He received unlimited respect and trust from his commanders, and even his subordinates loved him, despite his extreme toughness and demands, and affectionately called him “father.” Shlomo’s path was interrupted on 23 May 1977 when he was killed in the crash of the helicopter in the Jordan Valley in the course of his duties. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Rehovot. Survived by his parents and sister. After his death he was promoted to lieutenant. His parents published a book in his memory.
