fbpx
Weissman, Yishai-Ronen

Weissman, Yishai-Ronen


Son of Hannah and Eli. Born on May 8, 1965 in Kibbutz Megiddo, Ronen grew up and was educated in the kibbutz until he reached the age of mitzvot, where he completed his elementary school, The Avshalom Regional School and the Eshel Hanasi High School, with the evacuation of Yamit residents – and Ronen, 17 years old – the family established a moshav in the Negev, where he was active in the youth movements of the Moshavim movement and continued his training. At the end of August 1983, Ronen was recruited for compulsory military service in the Israel Defense Forces and began his military course in a pilot course. After a few months he moved to the Paratroopers’ infantry track, completed basic training and took part in a parachuting course. During the course, Ronen’s leg was broken and he stopped exercising for six weeks. After his recovery, Ronen returned to the combat course, went on to a course for infantry commanders and a course for infantry officers, and at the end of the officers ‘training course, Ronen continued to instruct at the officers’ school. Very professional, efficient and very dedicated, “and especially emphasized his high level of discretion and responsibility, leadership ability and personal example. Ronen guided two cadets and at the end of the period was stationed in the Givati ​​Brigade. He held command and training positions in the brigade’s training base and later was stationed in one of the battalions. At the end of his regular service Ronen signed a one year appointment, received the rank of lieutenant and went with the battalion to activities in Lebanon. Ronen was supposed to finish his service in July 1987. His commander asked him to extend his signature and noted: “Ronen is a very good officer, and the battalion needs him to continue as a company commander until the company goes to the commanders’ course in three months.” He accepted his command and extended his service by three months. On September 15, 1987, Ronen fell in combat in Lebanon. He was injured in a clash with a terrorist squad on the western slopes of the Hermon. With him fell Lieutenant Alexander Singer and Private Oren Kamil. Ronen was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Be’er Sheva. Survived by his parents, and three sisters – Inbal, Naama and Shir. After his fall he was granted the rank of captain. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, then-defense minister Yitzhak Rabin wrote: “Ronen took on the most difficult tasks: he was a born leader, loved by his subordinates and a model friend.” At the time, his unit commander wrote to his family: “Ronen was an example and a symbol … He was involved in the education of every soldier in the company.” His family established in his memory the memorial site in moshav moshav. The Jewish student organization in Rome planted a tree in his memory in one of the forests of the Jewish National Fund

Skip to content