Politi, Reuven

Reuven, Mazal and Moshe, was born on October 22, 1954, in Jerusalem. He attended the “Alliance” elementary school and the ORT vocational high school, specializing in fine mechanics. Our rabbi, as his family affectionately called him, grew up in the Succot Shalom neighborhood of central Jerusalem, where he spent years of joyful childhood. As a young son of a political family, who was also blessed with beauty, grace and gentleness, Rabbeinu was loved not only by his two brothers and sister, but also by many friends in the neighborhood and in the school. He had a wonderful combination of excellent humor with brilliant ingenuity, which attracted the attention of people who had met him. At the school, he obtained excellent grades in all subjects, for which he received many awards. His serious attitude toward school and school did not prevent him from being active and lively at every party and social event in the school. Especially at Purim parties, he was always surprised to discover his mother’s original costumes. Our rabbi was a young man full of love of life and tremendous curiosity about the whole world. With his characteristic joy, he wanted to get to know the world and try his hand at anything new and interesting. Because of his great enthusiasm for everything he saw, he did not want to concentrate on one hobby, and since he was blessed with a discerning eye and a sensitive and understanding Lev, there was no field that touched him, which did not turn into success. His sharpness and quickness of mind stood in his many quizzes and he won the first places. In quizzes about the book “Tehillim,” which took place in the neighborhood synagogue, he was not competing for the title of general, and he won it time after time. An important place in his life was his love for the various arts. He was an active member of the Jerusalem Municipal Theater and participated in all the plays that were performed there at the time. He also wrote many poems of thought and thought and did welding and engraving work in various metals. His family also had a large collection of his paintings, in oil and pencil. After graduating from high school, he began working at the Pereg factory, in the field of fine mechanics. Rabbeinu was an outstanding athlete, both as a member of Hapoel’s wrestling team and as an active participant in the sports and Gadna activities, which took place in the Katamon neighborhood youth club. Reuven was drafted into the IDF in early 1972 and volunteered for the infantry brigade, after which he volunteered to serve in the “Egoz” commando unit, where his commanders testified that he had a strong desire to succeed and indeed achieved excellent achievements as a combat soldier in this elite unit. His ability to maintain high spirits even under the most difficult conditions, helped many of them to undergo the arduous training, and when they met him he would smile, and during the Yom Kippur War Reuven participated with his unit in the battles of containment in the Golan Heights. (22.10.1973), was hit and killed by Syrian artillery fire, which was fired at his unit After he was captured by the Syrians, Reuven was brought to eternal rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl and left behind his parents, sister and two brothers, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant: “He was one of the best fighters in the unit, A loyal friend and a friend who strengthened morale in every situation. “