Schechter, Avraham-Nissan (Avi)
Son of Pnina and Yosef, was born on July 17, 1964 in Haifa, his father, a Holocaust survivor, was 12 years old when the Nazis murdered his mother before his eyes and his blood spattered on him. On the illegal immigrant ship “Exodus”, but the British returned the ship to Europe, and during the War of Independence he succeeded in immigrating to Israel. In these battles he was wounded. My father’s mother is a descendant of a family of rabbis, and my father grew up in his religious parents’ home. From an early age my father had discovered his special qualities. He was strong, cheerful, full of joie de vivre, with a sense of humor, with an infectious smile. My father had a talent for imitation, and with these virtues it was not hard for him to adapt to any society he found himself in. He attended elementary school in the Neve Sha’anan neighborhood in grades 1-6, then moved to junior high school at the Yavneh School in Haifa, where he left home and began boarding school In Kfar Haroeh, he studied in the ninth grade, but Avi Taav Hayim sought out a new friend and went to study in the Netanya yeshiva, where he completed grades 10-12. Aviv was a member of the Bnei Akiva movement and was active in his movement. He was always surrounded by friends, always busy, active, a prominent figure in society. When he was in the twelfth grade, my father died from his father, who was very attached to his mother, who found him a source of comfort and consolation and fulfilled the mitzvah of honoring even the harsh conditions of service at the front. As a yeshiva student, he asked to continue studying, but he recognized his obligation to serve in the IDF. For six months, my father went to study at the Azata yeshiva in Netivot. The Rosh Yeshiva was very impressed by my father’s image, as a student and as a person. In this short period, he learned to appreciate the Torah scholars day and night, and wanted to establish his home in their own way. In January 1983, my father enlisted in the IDF and was assigned to the Armored Corps, where his comrades in the company told him about the special spirit he had instilled in the company, a spirit of faith and awareness of the values of Jewish tradition. , My father tried to find a friend in Gemara, and in May 1983 Avi completed a professional course in the Armored Corps and was promoted to Corporal. He was transferred with his unit to an operational service in Lebanon. On May 27, 1984, my father was on a tour of the Jeb-Jenin area in the eastern sector. Two jeeps were on patrol, near the Syrian lines. The enemy opened fire from an ambush on the two jeeps, and the passengers were hurt. My father was seriously wounded in the head and taken to the hospital. For about a month he fought for his life and on the 24th of Sivan 5744 (24.6.1984) died. He was 20 years old when he died. He was laid to rest in the civilian cemetery in the village of Samir, near Haifa. My father left behind a mother, a brother, and a sister. In a letter of condolences, Rabbo wrote: “We were impressed by the degree of truth in him, with sincerity that aspired to transcend faith and always wanted to approach Torah and mitzvot.” Defense Minister Moshe Arens wrote to his mother: “He was a devoted soldier and a model friend, and my father was loved by everyone who knew him.” The commander of his regiment wrote: “Corporal Avi was an honest soldier and served as an example of his company.” In his name appeared the book “Son of Yekev Av,” which contained three parts: 1. Halacha and aggadah on the topic of “honoring father and mother.” 3. Memories, Memories and Letters The local newspaper of the Neve Sha’anan neighborhood in Haifa published two articles, including an account of the life and death of my father
