Rafi, Yosef

Son of Rafael and Salima. He was born in Jerusalem on March 3, 1955. He studied at the Ariel State Religious School in Maoz Zion and continued his studies at the Ma’aleh religious high school in Jerusalem in a realistic track. Elementary – Benjamin: “I was privileged to teach Joseph and his friends in grades 5-6. And I remember those days for the best. Thanks to his dynamic and dynamic participation, the entire class reached a high level of achievement. To his credit, I sometimes learned vague things from him that I did not think about when preparing the lesson. Even in his early years, Yosef was distinguished by his good manners and good morals. He was always an example to his friends in his quiet, good manner. He was loved by his classmates and, despite his shyness, attracted attention and always concentrated his friends around him. I always knew that Yosef’s students would go up the ladder of study and excel in everything. “Moro adds in elementary school:” Yossi was a student and a wonderful person. The innocent, childlike smile did not erase him. His years in school are still remembered as the good years of school. In his class, in the company of the children and in the teachers’ room, he was never angry or quarreling. It was impossible to be angry with him, because there was no reason for this, and because of his wonderful smile and the calm and calm atmosphere that he sang to his teachers, Yossi was a sharp and wise student, everything he learned and absorbed – he did not lose. He did not keep his wisdom for himself but wanted to help others. More than once I thought and thought other teachers like myself: Simcha is the student waiting for his masters. Yossi was also a source of thought for how to educate a generation of Jews who love their people and their country. “Yosef was drafted into the IDF in August 1973 and was assigned to the Engineering Corps. After basic training, which was interrupted in the Yom Kippur War, and after completing a course for squad commanders and a noncommissioned course, Yosef was injured in his knee and began to train recruits at the corps training base. After his commanders insisted on his qualifications, he was sent to an officer’s course. He successfully completed the course and returned to his unit as an officer. In this role and in his previous roles Joseph found the way to be meticulous in his attitude toward his subordinates, but at the same time to help them in every problem, to advise them on various issues and to elevate their mood. In this way Yosef soon became acquainted with his subordinates and commanders, and received full respect for his various positions. On the 25th of Tevet 5726 (25.12.1975) Yosef fell while fulfilling his duties in the south of the country. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Survived by his parents, sister and two brothers. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, the battalion commander wrote: “Yossi was young and promising, still at the beginning of his career in a central role in the regiment, his quiet and comfortable character, his good Lev and his modesty. Soldiers and commanders of the battalion. ” His friend Minni wrote in his memory: “What characterizes Yossi most of all is the strong will of life and the war over life, his own life and his integration into a healthy and creative society, a healthy and mature soul in a weak body, an enormous will power and extraordinary intellectual courage. Joseph”. His family commemorated him at the Torat Moshe synagogue in Maoz Zion and in a notebook in his memory.