Rafer, Raphael-Haim
Son of Yaffa and Avraham, was born on March 21, 1935 in Jerusalem. As a child, Rafael moved with his family to live in Tel Aviv. He first studied at the “Merkaz” elementary school, and after eight years of education moved to the Shalva Gymnasium. He completed his high school studies in a humanistic track. Raphael belonged to the United Youth Movement and to the Nahal Brigade, but when his enlistment approached, he preferred to continue his studies as an academic reserve, and in July 1953 he joined the IDF and served as a reservist in the IAF. Raphael studied at the Hebrew University of Haifa, where he completed a course in technical photography, a training course for commanders, and was promoted to corporal in September 1956. After completing his studies at the Technion, Rafael was drafted into the regular army, In Paris, he worked on a project of the Israeli embassy, and the French minister of scientific affairs sought to postpone his service, but Rafael returned to Israel and continued to serve as an engineer in the Corps of Engineers, During the Six-Day War and during the Yom Kippur War, and was an architect and urban planner, planning public buildings in the city son of-Gurion University of the Negev, nuclear reactor in Dimona, etc. In May 1979, Rafael was in reserve duty and fell during his service on 10 June 1979. Rafael was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul in Tel Aviv. He left behind him a wife and parents, 44, when Raphael was killed, and his unit commander wrote in a letter of condolence to his family: “Rafael was embedded in the battalion’s operations department. He fulfilled all the tasks assigned to him professionally and with dedication. He knew how to integrate his civilian profession and talents into his military role, and was well integrated with his comrades in operations. As part of his last reserve duty, he was involved in staff work and work carried out by the battalion’s soldiers in the area. He will be remembered for his quiet character and his diligence. “
