Wichelbaum, Eran

Son of Chava and Samuel. He was born on August 25, 1970 in Tel Aviv and spent his childhood there. He studied at the Tel Nordoi Elementary School and in the junior high school at the Herzliya Gymnasium. When he was fifteen, Eran went with his family to New York, following his father’s mission. Eran was accepted as a student in New York and graduated from Hewllet High School. After much deliberation, Eran chose to postpone the realization of his desire to serve in the IDF and continued his studies in the United States, in order not to increase his parents’ fears. Eran was admitted to Stony Brook University in New York and is considered an outstanding student and one of his academic achievements is a double degree in physics and mathematics with honors. During his studies at the university, his intense love for Israel and the feeling of Zionism did not fade, values ​​that were strengthened during this period and expressed in his numerous activities within the Jewish community on campus. Eran was an active member of the B’nai B’rith Order, and as part of this organization he founded the Chevra, which coordinated the activities of the Israeli students on campus. Eran served as the president of this organization from its founding in 1988 until the completion of his studies in 1992. In addition, he was active in the Hillel Jewish Student Organization and a member of its administration from 1989-1992. During this period he organized pro-Israel events on campus as well as social events aimed at strengthening the connection between Israeli students and Jewish and other students. His friends saw him as a devoted person to his family and friends, striving for perfection in everything he did, while maintaining a sense of humor, love of life, sincerity and sensitivity. Every summer vacation Eran used to visit Israel. During these visits he took long walks in the landscapes he loved so much. Eran was a talented athlete and maintained high physical fitness in preparation for the day when he would fulfill his dream and enlist in the IDF Despite the many offers he received for continuing research in the fields of research and medicine in the United States, Eran rejected all of them and returned to his country of love. In August 1992 his ambition was fulfilled and he was drafted into the IDF. He volunteered to serve for two years and was convinced – as his commanders believed – that he had a long way to go beyond this period as an officer in the unit, and his father Shmuel said: “I wanted him to stay In New York and continue his studies, but he would not listen. At the university he met guys who served in the paratroopers and that only increased his desire to return to Israel and serve in an elite combat unit. When he returned to Israel and enlisted, he said to me, ‘I’m in the clouds.’ I never remembered him as happy as he was in the army. “” Eran was an extraordinary talent, “testified his brother-in-law Boaz.” There was nothing he did and did not succeed. He was also very stubborn and Zionist. “About two months after his induction, on Erev Heshvan 5753 (5/11/1992), Eran fell in the line of duty. Eran was killed in a training accident at the Tze’elim base in the south of Israel, during a training exercise. Four other IDF soldiers were killed: Arieh Cohen, Elad Shilo, Shimri Shafran and Sharon Tamir, who was laid to rest in the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery, followed by his parents, brother Jack and two sisters Limor and Adi. He fell to the rank of corporal. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, the unit commander wrote: “Eran was a rare person who combined education, wisdom and gentleness, although despite his age he could serve for a year, volunteered for two years in the unit, Was that we would walk together far and wide. ” His family and friends published a book in his memory, which gathered Eran’s letters and thoughts.