Rotem, Ofer

Ofer, the only son of Chaya and Jacob, was born on September 22, 1954, in Chicago, United States, where his parents were studying. He immigrated to Israel with his family in 1955 and lived in Ramat Gan, where he studied until the first grade. When he was seven, his parents moved to Dimona, where he studied until the age of ten. Afterward, the family moved to Afula, where he completed his studies at Ramot Elementary School and his high school studies at the Afula High School in the biological track. Ofer was not one of the top students, but he knew how to persevere in order to finish his studies with honors and even excelled in mathematics and biology. He worked a lot in sports and excelled in many fields: football, basketball, swimming, weightlifting, running and table tennis. He was an active player in the football and basketball team of Hapoel Afula. He was an avid tourist who traveled extensively on three continents until he was drafted into the IDF Ofer was a typical sabra – cynical and tough on the outside but sensitive and idealistic in his soul – he loved life and was very involved in social life in Afula. was devoted to his parents and loyal to his friends Ofer was drafted into the IDF in early 1972 and volunteered for the paratroopers. He was an outstanding soldier in basic training and during the training period that followed, he quickly adjust to military discipline, although he did not receive any order without question. He was in great physical shape and always helped the weak. He was always the first to volunteer for any mission, and his commanders and other soldiers loved him very much. In the Yom Kippur War, Ofer served in Sinai. He was hit and killed by an air raid on Rafidim on the 8th of Tishrei 5734 (October 8, 1973) and was brought to rest in the Afula cemetery. Survived by his parents. After his fall, he was promoted to corporal. In his eulogy at the funeral, his commander said: “Ofer stood up to all the pressures that were demanded of the soldiers, and was revealed to be a natural leader in the department, with a high level of personal soldiering, good physical fitness and extraordinary vigilance.”