Schneider, Erwin (Eli)

Son of Gisela (Gritty) and Moshe. Born in the city of Warsaw, Romania on August 6, 1951. Erwin was a sociable, joyous and playful child who spent his time playing games, caring for animals and various sports activities, and began his studies in an elementary school in Romania, In 1964 he immigrated to Israel where he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, and continued his elementary studies at the Be’eri School in Haifa, despite the difficulties of language, To the naval officers in Acre, and at the end of his studies he set sail for the Cyprus school, and upon his return to Israel his health deteriorated and he became ill. Lung and asthma, because of his health, he was unable to serve in the IDF, but Erwin volunteered, submitted his candidacy and was accepted to the academic reserve for mechanical engineering studies. Erwin enjoyed his studies, helped many students with learning difficulties and was surrounded by friends. He was a loyal son to his parents, and he treated them with great respect and flattered them with gifts. He served as a tank engineer in the Ordnance Corps in April 1977. He was devoted and thorough and contributed greatly to the development of the Merkava tank, and despite his health limitations he struggled to become an officer. In 1976 he married Bracha and the two of them built their home in Haifa, and Arvine moved to serve in this city, and his commander testified that he was a very modest and kind man and never sought relief from the asthma he suffered from. The work became the focus of his life and he devoted all his time and energy to it The eldest son – Yaron, and four years later joined another family – Eran, who showed great devotion to his family, while his health worsened and asthma attacks became worse and more frequent. On the same day, he went to the sea to swim in the sea, while he was brought to rest in the military cemetery in Haifa and left behind a wife, two sons – Yaron and Eran and his parents. Every year.