Levi (Hadai), Zohar

Son of Rivka and Shalom. Born on 12.6.1966 in Rishon Letzion, the fifth son of the Levi family, with seven sons. He began his studies at the Yeshurun ​​State-Religious elementary school in the Gordon neighborhood in Rishon Letzion. Even then his social presence stood out, in stark contrast to his height and lean build. During these years, Zohar impressed his family, his friends, his neighborhood and his city. He was a social center in everything related to his class and school. Zohar, continued his studies at the Mikveh Israel Agricultural School, where he found a great place to express his special skills. He was known as an interesting interlocutor and adapted himself to any person with whom he had a discussion or conversation, regardless of age or education. His remarkable ability to connect with adults was his ‘trademark’. Everyone who came into contact with him, including friends, educators, and parents of friends, was fascinated by the ease with which he communicated and called him. He was full of joie de vivre, a lover of nature, a lot of horseback riding among the orchards surrounding the neighborhood. As a member of a traditional Yemenite family, he liked to sing and curl in his voice. In 1980 Mikveh Israel held an evening of young talents and Zohar won first place in singing, which he performed perfectly. Zohar liked to dance and excite his viewers. Mostly he excelled in his special ability to make bursts of laughter by making imitations. Especially memorable are family events, such as holidays, in which Zohar could be seen in the center and the whole extended family around him, laughing. Prior to joining the Israel Defense Forces, he moved to the Mishleb School of Mechanical Engineering. Where he graduated. At the beginning of July 1984, Zohar was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces. He was later assigned to the Golani Brigade and began his service as a truck driver in the brigade. As usual, Zohar took his place as a central social figure and received great esteem both from his friends and from his commanders, and was soon appointed to be the symbol of the vehicle department. 5756 (11.5.1986) was killed while carrying out his duties. Zohar returned to his base after a Shabbat break at his home. The brigade was stationed in training in the Golan Heights. An overloaded truck was supposed to lead combat rations from a restaurant to West Junction. After a short drive, in hard curves, Zohar lost control of the car and the truck overturned. Zohar was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Rishon Letzion. He left behind his parents and six brothers – Rafael, Yuval, Aviel, Ehud, Itamar and Dekel. A large crowd, family, comrades-in-arms, and many other acquaintances accompanied Zohar on his last journey and bitterly mourned the premature demise of Ilan’s life. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, the unit commander wrote: “Zohar served as a driver in the brigade, and during his service he aspired to be a fighter, and as a soldier in the Golani Brigade, he saw continuity and pride.