Shavit, Shai

Shai, son of Aviva and Yohanan, was born on the 18th of Av 5714 (17.8.1954) in Revivim. He studied there in elementary school and high school until the 10th grade, and graduated from the Ma’ale Habesor High School in the Eshkol region, in the real-biology track. Shai was the eldest of his parents and they admit they were afraid of every step he took. Later, when the family grew and expanded, Shai was discovered as a devoted and loyal brother to Amir, Ehud and Ido, his younger brothers. As a child he was introverted and closed within himself, not openly expressing his opinions and feelings. Only with his parents and brothers did he discover some of what was happening in his heart. At the same time, they testified that he was a very clever boy, and whenever he expressed his thoughts, his words were clear and intelligent. From his youth he excelled in his love for nature, the landscapes of the country and its animals, and when he studied at high school, he chose to specialize in biology. Shai devoted his spare time to reading. His mother said, “Sometimes it seemed as if in a reading frenzy Shai held us, as if he wanted to regain what he had lost in his first years in school.” When he was ten, he began playing the violin. He continued playing for about six years and after he stopped playing, he continued to listen to music and especially to modern music, with its special rhythms. He participated in social and cultural activities within the framework of the youth movement, integrated with his contemporaries and participated in the tricks and pranks they performed. In his youth he was open to all, a beloved friend, and acquired many friends. After his fall, his friends testified that “he was outstanding in taking care of our armored fighting vehicles … he had golden hands … and when he played football he had such stubbornness …” His friends, who find it hard to accept his loss, said after he fell in battle: “They took from us the good boy of God.” Shai was drafted into the IDF in early 1972 and volunteered for the Armored Corps. He was an excellent fighter and a dedicated and loyal soldier. Even during the difficult hours of training and operational activity, he knew how to maintain his coolness and peace of mind. By nature, he was endowed with tenacity and persistence, and worked tirelessly until he had accomplished every task he was assigned. During the Yom Kippur War, his unit participated in the battles of containment and infiltration against the Egyptians in the Sinai. In the fierce battles, Shai and his friends tried to stop the enemy attacks that crossed the canal. During the fighting, he wrote to his parents and brothers: “I’m fine, do not worry too much, everything is fine. On October 16, 1973, Levi was sent to a medical force on his way to the “Chinese Farm.” On the way to the destination, Shai was shot and killed by an Egyptian sniper and brought to rest in the Revivim Military Cemetery, leaving behind his parents and three brothers. In his condolence letter to the bereaved family, the unit commander wrote: “Your son, the late Corporal Shai, served in an armored unit for a long time. He was an excellent fighter and dedicated to his job. He was fond of his commanders and his friends, and carried out his duties to the satisfaction of his commanders. Shai fought courageously and fiercely. “Members of his family and friends at Kibbutz Revivim published a booklet called” Shai from Ashalim “, which contains his life history and things about his character.