Rosenberg, Assaf (Assi)

Ben Chaya and Isaac. He was born on 28.2.1973 in Petach Tikva. He studied at Hadar Elementary School. Afterward, he continued his studies in the junior high school at Beit Berl and graduated cum laude in computers at the Amal B high school. Assi was a sports enthusiast, a member of the Municipal Association for Combat Fitness and the Department of Karate-Do. He was mountaineering and diving in the sea and during his free time he traveled around the country listening to music. He showed great interest in computers and devoted many hours to it. Assi, beautiful and handsome, was quiet and introverted. He respected his parents and family. When he was about seven years old, his mother was hospitalized at Assi Hospital and at the end he expressed his desire to protect her from harm. Even in adulthood, he showed special concern to her, and helped her a lot in housework, especially requests. He forbade her to move heavy furniture and would do so in her place. He helped others at all times and was popular and sympathetic to his friends and gave his opinion about the elderly and their weakness and always tried to help them. At the end of November 1991, Assi was drafted into the army and volunteered for an elite unit in the IAF. For his service in the unit he used to say that one of the goals in the war is to kill while he is on the contrary, volunteering to save lives. According to his commander, Asi was endowed with a unique ability to endure. Was a ‘warm man,’ a real quiet type, who never did. His father says that “Assi did not talk much, he was a modest boy who did not like to boast about what he did.” On August 10, 1992, Asi was killed in a training accident in the Negev. During a rescue operation, the helicopter’s cable cut off and Vasi and his friend, Gil Tsuriano, who were dependent on him, fell to their deaths. Assi was laid to rest at the Segula military cemetery in Petah Tikva. Survived by his parents, sister Anat and brother Itai. In his obituary, his commander said: “Assi was the soul of the team, and his strong desire to be a combat soldier motivated him to be among the good … We lost a fighter.” In a letter of condolence to the family, his commander wrote: “You wanted to be a fighter and fulfill the mission to save lives.”