Nefesh, Reuven

Son of Pnina and David, was born on 24.1.1951 in Ashkelon. He studied at Assaf Elementary School in his hometown, and after graduating he moved to the Neve Herzog Yeshiva. At a young age he went out to work, to help support the family. He was doing odd jobs, especially in the sewing industry. In February 1969 he enlisted in the IDF as a member of a bereaved family (in 1961 his brother danced in Netanya during his regular service while serving as an officer in the rear unit.) After completing basic training, Reuven was placed in a transport unit. Cpl. In February 1972 he was promoted to sergeant. When he completed his regular service he volunteered to serve in the regular army. In January 1973, he was awarded the rank of Staff Sergeant and 10 months later was promoted to the rank of Major General, and his commanders’ opinion was that he was “efficient and dedicated In October 1975, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant major and transferred to the position of a management officer at the Judea and Samaria headquarters in the Bethlehem governorate, where he served for six years, and in July 1981 he was transferred to serve as a management officer On August 3, 1981, he traveled in a military vehicle on his way from Jerusalem to Tzrifin. Five soldiers were killed in a head-on collision, including the driver of the military vehicle and Reuven, four of whom were seriously wounded, Reuven was buried at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, and 30 was in his death. He was survived by a wife, a son, a daughter, parents and four brothers, and his name was commemorated in a synagogue in Jerusalem where he used to pray for his family. He was chosen as one of the outstanding soldiers who was presented to the President of the State, and I was Simcha when I accepted him and entrusted him with a responsible role – a management officer. It is right to reach out and help others, and we will remember him with the good smile he always had on his lips. “