The eldest son of Judith and Giora. He was born on August 13, 1961, a brother to Amit and Gali. Tamir was born and raised on Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk, the third generation of the kibbutz founders. He was educated in the children’s kibbutz and in the regional educational institution Naaman. His friends from the kibbutz remember him as a good and handsome boy, who radiated calmness and serenity, and as a young man with talent, not much talk. Tamir was an outstanding and serious student, engaged in sports and played in the volleyball team of Mate Asher, and was a devoted instructor in Hashomer Hatzair. Already in his youth, he stood out for his strong belief in the values he had been educated on and his strong desire to contribute to the state and society in which he grew up. In October 1979, Tamir enlisted in the Golani Brigade, completed an officers’ training course, returned to the commando unit to command a young team, and with him went to the Peace for Galilee war and the battle of Beaufort, where six of his comrades were killed. Prime Minister Menachem Begin and then-Minister of Defense Ariel Sharon, who came to visit the photographs that were taken at the meeting and were published in the media, became one of the symbols of the Lebanon War, and Tamir, with his modesty, left a great impression on his commanders and friends. Describes him as an impressive and thorough guy: “Tamir had a big head on his shoulders, he was one that could be trusted. I do not remember going into a confrontation. He had a comfortable disposition, quiet, businesslike and moderate. He came to the army to do his duty and was therefore convinced that he should go to an officers’ course. “The soldiers he commanded said they were impressed by his kindness, his smile, his pleasant character and the authority he radiated. During his service, Tamir served as deputy commander of the Golani reconnaissance unit under the command of Moshe Kaplinsky (now the OC Central Command), and in this position he was also responsible for the training unit of the commando unit In 1984, Tamir was discharged from the IDF, returned to his kibbutz and joined the plantation staff. In 1986, he married his girlfriend Orly Ben-Dayan, whom he met during his military service. He then went on to study electrical engineering at the Technion and at the end he joined the staff of Silma (a subsidiary of Silora) in Kfar Masaryk. Until 1995, Tamir and Orly lived in Kfar Masaryk, where their sons Roi and Guy were born. Tamir was active and involved in kibbutz life, and served various social functions. In 1995 Tamir and his wife Orly chose to move to Moshav Ben Shemen, where they built their home. Tamir continued to work in his profession as an electrical engineer, first at Motorola and recently worked as the development engineer of InterCure, which developed a medical device to lower blood pressure. In November 1998 Tamir and Orly-Dan’s third son was born. In Ben Shemen, too, Tamir was involved in community life: he participated in educational and social activities and was one of the initiators of the establishment of a sports field for the children of the moshav. In the years since he was discharged from the regular army (1984), Tamir served in the reserve unit of the reserve infantry brigade, the same brigade where his father, Giora, served in the reserves. In 2001 he completed his duties as commander of the Military Police, and continued to accompany the Patrol as part of his position at the brigade headquarters, where he was sent to reserve duty in October 2002, where he was asked to organize soldiers from various units to guard the settlements in the West Bank and the seam line, (27.10.2002), to the Ariel gas station – a meeting place for many soldiers prior to their departure – from where he was supposed to distribute his soldiers for guard missionsIn the West Bank settlements. Suddenly a suicide bomber arrived. Tamir and other soldiers fought with him, and the explosive he carried on his body exploded. Major General Tamir Masad, Major General Amihud Hasid and Lieutenant Matan Zagron were killed in this battle. He was forty-one years old when he fell. He was laid to rest in the cemetery at Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk, where he was born and raised. He left behind a woman – Orly, three children – Roy, Guy and Dan, parents – Yehudit and Giora, brother – Amit and sister – Gali Massad – Bloomberg. On the anniversary of his downfall, the family published a memorial book for his commemoration. Tamir’s family and friends also work in other ways to commemorate his memory: on family trips, setting up an activity and sports center in Moshav Ben Shemen, and more. In memory of Tamir, a website was established at the following address: WWW.KFAR-MASARYK.ORG.IL/PRIVET/MASAD
