Roitman, Roman

Ben Tatina and Plato, brother to Alexander. Born in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia on November 23, 1979, Roman was a curious and active child, and from the age of five he worked on building models of ships that were preserved to this day. He was a member of the Young Technicians’ Circle in Tbilisi, where he practiced sports, swimming and basketball, and since 1992 he was a member of the Maccabi sports team, Was an outstanding student, and after the seventh grade he moved to a special school for Matmim And then began studying Hebrew at a Jewish Agency school in May 1995. In May 1995, Roman successfully moved to the Na’aleh-16 program and joined a group of nine teenagers who immigrated to Israel in early September 1995. Roman arrived at the WIZO Nahalat Yehuda youth boarding school ‘ in Rish’on Le’Tzion. Two weeks after his arrival in Israel, he was invited to the President’s Residence in Jerusalem as a member of a delegation of immigrant youth to meet with President Ezer Weizman. Roman congratulated the president on behalf of all the participants in the Na’aleh-16 program in 1995. Despite his poor Hebrew, he spoke without the written text: “A month ago, each of us came up with a new way of life, without parents, here in the state of Israel. It was a very difficult decision, and we know that we are facing many difficulties on the way, but we are confident that with the help of the project’s founders, we will be able to overcome the difficulties, learn the language and succeed in our studies … ” During his first year in Israel, Roman spoke Hebrew freely, and during his three years of high school, he was one of the leading students, and continued his training as a swimming instructor. Roman took part in the traditional Kinneret crossing and was among the first to reach the finish line He was a true leader and a sensitive and warm child, and maintained close relations with his family, and Roman adopted the State of Israel in his heart, loved her and saw her as good, even though he did not ignore her shortcomings. In 1998, Roman completed his high school diploma and completed his matriculation exams with great success, and submitted his candidacy to the electronics faculties at Tel Aviv University and the Technion in Haifa, but over time changed his mind and decided to postpone his studies and enlist in the army. In November 1998, Roman was drafted into the IDF and assigned to the Israel Defense Forces, where he completed a paramedics course and was assigned to serve in a military prison in Jerusalem. Roman was loved by everyone, disciplined and professional. In his letters home he wrote: “At last I became a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, and I am very proud of it …” On 26.5.2000, a Roman lieutenant was killed while serving at the age of twenty-one. In the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery, leaving behind his parents and brother.