Ben Michal and Yitzhak. He was born on August 30, 1967 in the Caucasus, the former Soviet Union. At the age of two, Avner was orphaned from his father. In 1975, at the age of seven, he immigrated to Israel with his mother and sister Helena. Avner was a smiling child who loved painting very much and developed a hobby of flying models. He acquired his basic education at the Shazar elementary school in Be’er Sheva, where the family lived, and from there went on to the “Makif G” high school in the city, but after two years he moved to Kibbutz HaMa’apil in northern Israel. Avner served in the IDF and served as a combat soldier in the Givati Brigade. He took a number of courses, including a course for commanders and a “Dragon” course. Until his release in 1989, he served in the auxiliary company in Givati. In the reserve service, Avner served as the sergeant of the “Dergun” platoon in the auxiliary company of the Nachshon Battalion. After the liberation, Avner worked for a year with Makhteshim and then embarked on a fascinating journey in Australia, Thailand, Singapore and Japan. As soon as he returned he went back to London and Amsterdam. Upon his return he worked for several months and traveled again, this time to the United States. After completing the stages of his life, Avner began studying industry and management at the Technological College in Be’er Sheva. After completing his studies, he began working for the pharmaceutical company Kamada in the Negev, and was well integrated into the company and the staff. The estimates of the employees who registered for him did not surprise his family: Avner is considered a dedicated, responsible, thorough, quiet, modest and diligent employee. In July 2001, he received a commendation for his contribution to updating the production register and the quality of production of a pharmaceutical product. Avner was a smiling man, kind and loved by everyone. He had many hobbies, including karate, soccer, basketball (he was amazing at tripping), but mostly he loved diving and spent long periods in Eilat. At the age of thirty-two, Avner married his son Pnina and the two lived in his widowed mother’s house in Be’er Sheva. Their eldest daughter, Michal, was named after Avner’s mother. They were about to move to a new apartment they had purchased, but were not enough. After the terror attack at the Park Hotel in Netanya, Avner, like many of his friends, was called to reserve duty in Operation Defensive Shield. Avner did not hesitate for a moment, and immediately stood up. According to his mother, “he went to reserve duty with a smile on his face when he firmly believes in the necessity of military activity in order to stop terror.” After a few days of preparation, the auxiliary company of the Nachshon Battalion entered the refugee camp in Jenin. For a week, Avner and his comrades fought the terrorists in the camp, with constant and constant danger of their lives. Whenever possible, Avner called his wife and tried to calm her concerns. He was not happy when their last conversation was announced that they were expecting another child. Avner risked his life and sacrificed it for a cause he believed in: defending his homeland and achieving security for the country’s citizens, while preserving humanity and human dignity even during the difficult battles. On the morning of Holocaust Martyrs ‘and Heroes’ Remembrance Day, on April 9, 2002, Avner was killed in a battle in Jenin in one of the most difficult battles the IDF knew, with the commander of the platoon, Captain Dror Bar, and eleven of his comrades. Avner was thirty-four years old when he fell, and was brought to rest in the military cemetery in Be’er Sheva, where he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant, Abner left a wife, daughter, mother and sister. Avner’s grandfather, who loved the sea, erected a dolphin-shaped monument erected at the “Shazar” school in Be’er Sheva, where he studied as a child.
