Mordechai, Rafael (Rafi)

Raphael was born on June 1, 1951 in Baghdad, Iraq, and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1954. He studied at the Magenim Elementary School in Kiryat Shmona and continued his studies at Beit- The Danziger High School in Kiryat Shmona and later studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in the Department of Sociology. Raphael was a diligent student, persistent and profound, loved by his teachers and friends. He was a keen sports fan, especially for the basketball game, and a member of the Kiryat Shmona basketball team. In his youth, he served as a youth counselor in his town, helped many of his students in various fields and helped them to encourage them in things and deeds. He was naturally good and kind, always willing to help and willingly and brightly responded to any request. He loved and respected people, loved people, was friendly and had a pleasant temperament. His friends trusted him, admired and respected him, for he was a devoted friend and loyal friend. He was an honest man, standing in his word, frank and conscientious. He had simplicity and honesty, and from childhood he excelled in the joy of life and the love of life. Everyone remembers him as a cheerful, smiling man, always in a good mood, and looking good-hearted. He was a conversationalist who could speak reason and taste. He also excelled with great vigor and stubbornness as he strove to achieve his goal. Although he had great self-confidence, he was not arrogant, but modest and simple. All his life he was Simcha with his lot, and excelled in loyalty and devotion to his parents. Raphael was drafted into the IDF in early 1969 and assigned to the paratroopers. In one of the battles during the War of Attrition, he was seriously injured in the stomach, and for many days he lay in a hospital until he was healed. After he recovered, the doctors gave him a low profile, but he made great efforts, and again appealed the doctors’ decision until the medical profile was restored to him as soon as he was first. In his unit he was an outstanding soldier, responsible and devoted to his job. Both his friends and commanders loved him and appreciated his good qualities both as a soldier and as a human being. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Rafi was drafted and sent with his unit to the front in Sinai. Where he took part in the battles to contain and break into the other side of the Suez Canal. On 27.10.1973 Rafael’s infantry unit went up on a mine in Ras Masala, in the northern Gulf of Suez, and was seriously injured for a week, until he died of his wounds on November 5, 1973. The next day he was laid to rest at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem. He was survived by a father, mother, two brothers and six sisters. After his fall, he was promoted to sergeant. His parents erected a commemorative corner at the Danziger School in Kiryat Shmona