Saar (Friedman), Gabriel

Gabriel (Gabi), born Nurit and Rafael, was born in Petah Tikva on January 29, 1952, and grew up in Giv’atayim, where he studied at the Shimoni elementary school, after moving to Kiryat Bialik. At the Kiryat Bialik elementary school, and continued his studies at the “Sammat” high school in Haifa, where he graduated as a technician in the electronics track. Gabi was a good student and succeeded in his studies. He saw his future as an engineer and therefore planned to continue studying at the Technion after he was discharged from the army. Even when he was a child, he excelled in peace, kindness, and self-confidence. He never lost his temper and was not deterred by difficulties and obstacles. He was always consistent, faithful to himself and his way and always willing to help others. Thanks to these virtues, he became fond of everything. As a counselor in the Gadna from 1966 to 1969, Gabi and his friends saw him as a healthy, strong, talented and honest young man who always sought his advice and guidance. Gabriel was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in mid-February 1971. Shortly before he was recruited, he was called for flight tests and was found to be in the army. And when he enlisted he was placed in the air force. He went through the usual training series, which each pilot passes, until he is qualified as a Skyhawk pilot. During the training period, he excelled in his brilliant judgment, perseverance and his comfortable manner. In the internal questionnaires filled out by the participants in the course and asked about whom they would choose as their staff member, Gabi was among the most wanted. In particular, his squadronmates liked his rare narrative talent and ability to describe. He was able to give things a realistic, fascinating and compelling character in his painterly language and wisdom. Gabi used to “dream dreams” and plan many plans, but the greatest he did not achieve. On Sunday, 7.10.1973, he was to marry his beloved girlfriend Dalia. Everything was ready and ready, but suddenly the Yom Kippur War broke out and things went wrong. Gabi and his friends finished their trusts near the outbreak of the war but were not yet considered operational pilots. Only because of the stubbornness, resourcefulness, and trust of his commanders did he have the authority to fly. For ten days he operated in the skies of Syria, and his comrades reported on direct hits and outstanding results. On the 15th of Tishrei 5740 (October 15, 1973), his plane was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire during an operational incursion south of Kuneitra.The tail of the plane broke off, Gabi apparently lost control of the plane and failed to plummet. He was brought to rest in the military cemetery in Nahariya, where he left behind his parents and brother, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in a bulletin published by the local council of Kiryat Bialik in memory of her sons who fell in the Yom Kippur War. “This man was hard not to see. The face of a Greek god with golden curls draped over them. A Yaffa face that was clear to them was his Yaffa body. This divine beauty, which dwelt in it, was especially impressive because of its serenity. A kind of beauty that comes only from the Divine Presence. Stop, very arrogant, quiet, all says dignity, clarity and right. “