Vidman, Raphael

Raphael (Rafi), son of Tzipora and Eliezer, was born on the 23rd of Sivan 5706 (June 23, 1946) in Jerusalem.Rafael was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in late July 1964 and joined the “Negev” Nahal Brigade, after completing his basic training course at Kibbutz Revivim, where he worked in a metal workshop. Rafi called the kibbutz and his men very much, but after a while he was transferred to Ketziot and was sent to an advanced training program in Kaunas Major paratroopers parachuted framework Infantry unit. At the end of the course he wore a paratrooper’s wings. His friends in the army testify that Rafi was a responsible and dedicated soldier and served as an example of his good temper and obedience. In September 1966, Rafi completed his mandatory military service, returned to Jerusalem and began working in a family business that belonged to his grandfather.Two weeks before the outbreak of the Six-Day War he was recruited to Motta Gur’s team and participated in the battles to conquer the Old City, After three years of work with his grandfather, Rafi decided to devote himself to academic studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he chose the Department of Economics and completed his BA studies shortly before the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War. Who was studying at the university, was accepted to a computer programming course held by the Ministry of Education He worked in the Ministry of Education and Culture, studied at the university, assisted his father and grandfather in running their businesses, and in May 1972 he married his girlfriend Chana (nee Gorodiski), whose extensive activity in civil life was interrupted from time to time. He participated in the pursuit of the Jordan Valley and did some of the most difficult times during the War of Attrition, and he saw many of his good friends, but he was imbued with faith and hope for a better future, and when his daughter was born on the 9th of Nisan 5733 1973) was a great experience for him. On the night of Yom Kippur 5734, Rafi was called to his unit in the Paratroopers Brigade, and was sent to the Sinai front On Wednesday, 17 October 1973, Hoshana Rabba was killed during a battle in which his half-track was hit by a shell. He was killed on the West Bank of the Suez Canal, south of Ismailia, and brought to rest at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl, leaving behind a wife and a daughter, a father, a mother And a sister, who was promoted to the rank of corporal,