Smadja, Armon (Nissim)

Armon (Nissim), was born on August 21, 1950, in Tunis, Tunisia, and immigrated to Israel in 1946 with his family, which settled in Kiryat Malachi. He studied there at the “Brothers” elementary school and graduated with honors. He completed his high school studies at the ORT vocational school in Ashkelon and studied retraining. Because he had a natural inclination to do handicrafts, this profession was his favorite. His teacher taught him: “Armon was a diligent, sociable and pleasant boy who always felt the help of others and was loved by his friends and teachers, and as a trainee he absorbed the spirit of volunteerism and sacrifice. He took part in the activities of the students’ society in the institution, excelled mainly in post-school activities at the youth center, and was a good athlete. In Kiryat Malachi he established the “Arazim” group of about twenty boys and set up various activities: sports competitions, organizing exhibitions and helping the needy. Armon identified with the name of the group and always said: “We cedar, must be stable, upright and shady.” Indeed, he had a fighting and idealistic spirit. In his youth, he excelled in sports and spent most of his time on the seashore. He also loved the Gadna training, and even then spoke of his future in the IDF. Armon also loved the handiwork and the painting, spent many hours working with them and worked hard to decorate his home. Armon was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in early May 1969 and assigned to the Ordnance Corps, where he underwent a turret technician course and was one of the outstanding trainees, who was then transferred to a combat unit that he did in the Sinai and fought in the War of Attrition. He happened to be rescued by a shrapnel from a shrapnel that was stuck in his steel helmet, which he did not tell his parents, so they would not worry. He always used to say: “If I do not do this hard work, and the others do not, who will fight for us?” He angrily denied any evasion of military service At the beginning of May 1972, Armon completed compulsory military service and enrolled in an electrification course in Ashkelon, where he completed high grades and prepared to work in the profession, but the war interrupted his plans. He was sent to the front of Sinai in the battle that took place on the 14th of Tishrei 5734 (October 14, 1973), and he was brought to rest in the cemetery in the village of Warburg, leaving behind his parents and three brothers. After his fall, he was promoted to sergeant. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “The actions of tArmon and his perseverance served us, its members, as a source of strength.