Meir, Tzur

Son of Baruch (Bernard) and Miriam. He was born on September 11, 1958 in Kibbutz Beeri to parents of Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Palestine in 1947 as “illegal” immigrants and were therefore interned in the British camps. Upon the establishment of the State of Israel they were liberated and a few years later they settled in Kibbutz Be’eri in the Negev, together with two sons, who were born before the birth of Tzur. Tzur grew up, like other kibbutz children, with great attention and love. He received the best education, first in elementary school and then in the local high school. Tzur passed his matriculation exams. Tzur was a smiling and kind child, and when he grew up, the young man was quiet and serious, diligent in his studies, educated, disciplined and temperamental. Noah spent much time with his friends, but more than that, he loved to stay with the family, especially his affectionate relationship with his two younger sisters, Tzur’s father was one of the paratroopers and participated in the Sinai War. Little Tzur tasted the taste of the war for the first time when he was eight years old. At the height of the Six-Day War, enemy shells fell on the agriculture from the Gaza Strip, and Tzur was in the shelter with his classmates. Tzur was a member of the Kibbutz HaMuhad division of Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed. Business in various sports – attests to some of the certificates that he left: the sport certificate for the year 5734, the swimming test certificate, the participation in the Independence races of 1968. During his spare time he was engaged in painting and wood sculpture. He also wrote poems. He was too fond of the animals. At the age of Bar Mitzvah he received from the governors of the cowshed, in exchange for the help he had provided, a “private” groom to raise him, and he treated him patiently and devotedly, and when the foal was a good and strong horse, Tzur’s great dream was to serve as a pilot in the air force. Indeed, he was tested and accepted for a pilot course. To his great disappointment, he did not meet the strict requirements, and like many others he was dropped out of the course. He moved to the Armored Corps. Tzur was drafted in late October 1976. In mid-March 1977 he was elected as a Distinguished Class Fellow in the Armored Corps course. However, perhaps because he continued to cultivate his dream of flying, he did not find his place and satisfaction in the Armored Corps despite his excellence in this corps. On the 18th of Av 5737 (August 2, 1977) Zur found his death during his service. He was laid to rest on the soil of Kibbutz Be’eri. Survived by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. Tzur’s commander wrote to the bereaved parents: “During the basic training, your son displayed a high professional ability, demonstrating confidence and mastery of the tool in an excellent manner.” The words of another commander: “Tire stood out among us, his friends and commanders in the army, he knelt down and fought his virtues, his ability and his perseverance was superior to him and excelled in everything he did. On the 30th anniversary of his death, Kibbutz Be’eri held a memorial service and an exhibition of his works. The parents and the kibbutz also published a booklet in his memory.