Shauli, Yotam (Bombon)

Ben Magda and Uriel. He was born on August 1, 1975, in Rishon Letzion. The second of the three children of the Shauli family, brother to Yohanan and to Israel. Yotam began his studies at the Reut elementary school in Rishon Letzion, continued in junior high school at the Mordei Hagetaot school, and graduated from the Johanna Jabotinsky School in Be’er Ya’akov, in the automotive mechanics course. Yotam enlisted in the IDF in January 1994 and served in the “Barak” battalion in the Golani Brigade. He underwent basic training and a full combat course. A week before they fell, Yotam volunteered for the battalion’s battalion company. Yotam fell during his duty in Lebanon, on the 18th of Adar 5755 (February 17, 1995). He was nineteen when he fell. He was promoted to sergeant after his death. He was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Rishon Letzion. Survived by his parents and two brothers. Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak wrote to the family: “Yotam, of blessed memory, fell during an activity in the struggle for security in the northern communities, when he was injured by the explosion of a pair of mines in the Ayashiya outpost in the security zone in southern Lebanon. Yotam served as a combat soldier in the Barak Battalion of the Golani Brigade and was described by his commanders as a good fighter who strove to advance and become a combat soldier in the brigade’s platoon. Was imbued with the joy of life and optimism, which he sang about his surroundings, admired and accepted by his commanders and friends alike. He was promoted to sergeant after his death. “Yotam added,” Yotam was a pillar and a magnet for all of us, his friends and commanders. His captivating smile, his love of life and his eternal optimism, clung to all of us, even in the difficult moments. All of this did not stand up to us the day Yotam fell. The silence he left behind was unbearable. The fighters and commanders of the unit bow their heads over the loss of a friend and a fighter – Yotam. “