Zahavi, Gad

Ziva and Amnon’s eldest son. Born on Sunday, April 6, 1986 at Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot. A brother to Ido. “Gadi came into the world with a halo of light that surrounded and wrapped him for many minutes,” his mother says, “and when he illuminates his surroundings with a white, shining face, his right hand resting on his cheek, and he looks like the thinker, Great and charming. ” Gadi enlisted in the IDF on August 1, 2004. He chose to serve in the Golani brigade after learning the history of the brigade, he recognized its capabilities and appreciated its contribution to the state, and began his training in the battalion training base ), Training that did not constitute any difficulty for him and saw them as the first stage in his training as a fighter, and on the way to realizing his dream of being a commander in the Golani Brigade and the IDF. During this short period, Gadi enjoyed not only the training but also the good friends who surrounded him and the commanding of high-quality and commanding officers, which gave him great happiness. Gadi felt that he had found a family in Golani that met all his expectations and hopes. He saw it as a source of learning, expansion of knowledge and experience. The members of the platoon testified that he was a true and supportive friend, told of his high personal abilities and of the great knowledge he had discovered in military and other fields, and it was not for nothing that he was nicknamed “Gad the battalion commander.” Gadi’s commanders assigned him as a regular duty officer of his platoon, On Sunday, September 5, 2004, he was happy that the basic training phase would be completed. He was excited about the imminent departure of a combat paramedics course and the possibility of being integrated into one of the brigade’s leading quality units. This healthy and strong of a skilled athlete, a broad heart and a love for all, suddenly stopped beating and cutting off all his plans, aspirations and dreams He died at the military cemetery in Rishon Letzion, and was survived by his parents and brother. You have passed the physical tests and the obstacle course without difficulty, and your personal weapon has been good for hitting the target. In the area of ​​values ​​as well, the personal responsibility, integrity and reliability that characterized you so much, you are chosen by your commanders to serve as a regular apprentice in the department. Despite all your achievements, you remain humble and aspiring to help and help your friends, and to bring the department to high achievements. “The Golani brigade, with its commanders and soldiers, is bowing its head today and saluting you.” Tzuriel told him, the company commander: “Gad was undoubtedly a leading soldier in his department, without fear and doubts about his desire to be a medic in Golani, And values, few soldiers can be expected in the first month to serve their military future, but we as commanders were clear that the young, blue-eyed, short and powerful, designed to do good in all his ways … May his memory be blessed. Many memorial projects were dedicated to Gadi. Shortly before his death, Gadi asked his parents to help donate books to the library set up in the Golani Hospital, and the parents saw this request as a will and realized the establishment of a library called “Golani Darchei” (“Gad Library”). In his letter he wrote: “Gad, who combined values ​​of morality, honesty, love of man, helping others, wisdom, humor, modesty and humility, was particularly interested in military history. To learn and expand knowledge among combatants and commanders alike. ” Every year on Gadi’s birthday, April 6, the library hosts a memorial ceremony during which the family contributes new books to the library, and a meeting of the brigade’s staff is held withTeenagers preparing for conscription into combat units. Gadi’s family donated embroidery from his skin to save the lives of others. On April 6, 2005, on his 19th birthday, about six months after his death, he initiated and organized his guide, and his friends continued to preserve his memory and maintain a close and close relationship with his family. Gadi’s idol, Danny Be’eri, is racing in his memory (Gadi trained with Danny in “Amit for Fitness” for two and a half years in preparation for combat service in the IDF). Before the race, the members designed a logo that they put on a key chain, and printed it on shirts that were distributed to the race participants. This symbol, in which children run and one kid races forward, attests above all to Gadi’s special personality; The head of the first goat is turned back toward the friends, searching for help. On this occasion, one of his friends from Amit Lakshura said that on one occasion Gadi told him, “I am willing to die for the state.” One of the training groups of the “Aluf” organization established by Gad’s coach, Danny Be’eri, is named after Gadi – the “Gadi staff” and the apprentices take part every year in ceremonies in his memory. On the first anniversary of his downfall, one of the members of the congregation said, “Dear Gadi … You were a symbol of willpower, friendship, comrades without borders, you no longer … I can not believe we will not hear the laughter, That we will not have the shoulder that supports without limits, the willpower and the great powers of the soul that were in you … I want you to know that we named our team in your name … and that when we win an outstanding team, Gadi, we will do it not because of title, prestige or pride , But simply because we know that you would like us to extract from us the good that exists in us and exhaust our abilities to the end. ” Gad’s estate still contains articles and essays he wrote, including an article published on the website “Fresh” in which he surveyed for the youth the essence of the days of consolidation for “paratroopers.” In his opening remarks, he wrote: “… there is no such thing as easy consolidation … every formulation is difficult and is designed to get the maximum out of you in the physical and mental sense …” He continued: “A very important tip! “Gadi left behind a collection of witty remarks he used a lot:” A rowboat can beat a steamer because of the crew spirit. ” “Do not dream about what you want to do, wake up and do it”; “All that is possible is done, everything that is impossible is done” (Julius Caesar); “Think like a wise man, something like a simple man” (Aristotle); “The wisdom is not to die for your country, but to make the other side die for its country” (General George S. Patton). Gadi’s friends to Company D August 04 took out a booklet containing his farewell letters and eulogies. “From conversations with Gadi’s friends and commanders in the days after his death, I managed to picture his image: a positive person, a good person, an investor, a person who takes on volunteer tasks for the public, who is not ashamed to do more than others. We have remembered him as a person of values ​​and professionalism, a leader, a soldier with motivation and tremendous potential to advance and influence. ” Wrote his friend Nadav Landau: “… you always knew how to give before everything and only afterward to take what you deserved, and you deserved … Things I will not forget you are: honesty and trust, evil, intelligence and gentlemanliness, It will not be understood why he stopped beating … “In 2008, his mother wrote:” … the moment we lost you, our life clock was shattered into irreparable fragments, and every day the longing,Longing and longing for you … Within us, Capricorn, you live in every split second, every minute and every hour of the day. … We live the memories and there is no other option but to smile when we talk about you. The smile is mixed with sadness and crying, but the memories from you are very pleasant. “You were an angel, Gadi, even in your life – a good and benevolent angel …” Gadi was a quiet and modest man, but he had been a man of organization and command since childhood, caring, loving others, friendship and friendship. He had a great ability to express his knowledge of sociology and psychology, and was able to express himself in writing and orally, and two of his most impressive works dealt with visiting youth in camps in Poland and leadership And leaders, and so Gadi wrote: “An army of scarecrows led by a lion is better than a lion army led by a lion The scarecrows, (the proverbial Latin). Leaders are the people who must lead a group for a particular purpose. … Most of the world’s well-known leaders were charismatic, persuasive, reliable and capable. … Leaders of all kinds have been throughout history and will also be in the future. This is because of their necessary role in realizing the goals, values, and norms of that group or nation. “The family and the house were the center of Gadi’s love and the place of his fortress, and Gad was attentive to every need and provided immediate response and attention, as the elder brother showed great love and concern for his younger brother Ido, And he saw him as a brother, a friend and an advisor, and his relations with his parents were close and warm, and when he saw himself as a partner in responsibility, Gadi undertook to deal with various arrangements, such as computer affairs and repair of electrical appliances. With a developed sense of humor – and sometimes sarcastic – which made everyone smile broadly This is a central part of Gad’s life, and it was expressed in a daily relationship, with mutual help and concern, and a modest and exceptionally kind man, a friend of the right to stand by them at all times, who “run backwards” to help the needy, And volunteered for the Civil Guard and began to participate intensively in the police activities, especially at night, at the end of the day, This week and on holidays. This activity included city tours, event security and preventive ambushes. As usual, he also showed great responsibility, initiative, meticulousness in fulfilling the tasks, and uncompromising in everything related to the quality of performance. All this, and despite his young age, quickly led to his appointment as shift supervisor and head of a surveillance team set up at night to prevent crime in various parts of the city. After his fall, his parents learned of activity in guarding the military plot of the cemetery in Rishon LeZion, in light of looting carried out there. Gadi aspired to be a combat soldier and commander in a combat unit in the Israel Defense Forces, and when he was in 10th grade he joined a training group of “Amit Laksharot” under the leadership of Danny Be’eri, and for nearly three years he participated in intensive preparatory training for the army. Gadi and his friends attest to his great determination and his exceptional motivation, along with his friends and Likud and the Darbun group, while Gadi Squash, who practiced at the gym, ran to the beach.As a 12-year-old, his friends predicted that within ten years he would be no less than a chief of staff. Gadi’s father had served in the permanent army, so the family had determined their place of residence according to the place of service. When Gadi was about three and a half years old, the family settled in Rishon Letzion. In this city Gadi grew up, completed his studies, acquired many friends and developed his innumerable skills. Sports was an essential part of Gadi’s life. At the age of two, he discovered an attraction for riding a bicycle. While in primary and secondary school in elementary school in Rishon LeZion, he participated in a variety of sports, and especially liked the Israeli Magen David Adom (“Magen Israeli”) group in July 1995, when Gadi was about nine and a half years old, Gadi attended the American School where he studied with the children of diplomats and other foreigners, participated in swimming, tennis and soccer, and excelled in baseball, and was a member of the Scouts movement, Which was organized by the parents at the American school and participated in summer camps, trips and navigations During the mission abroad, Gadi was able to meet people from different cultures, to connect with children from different parts of the world , To acquire the English language at the level of a mother tongue, and above all to develop and strengthen his personal abilities, independence and personal security. Besides family trips in Poland, Gadi visited many European countries, and later after his family returned to Israel in the United States. These trips were loved by him and provided his curiosity and interest in geography, history, and cultures. In 1998, the family returned to Israel, Rishon Letzion, and Gadi began his junior high school. Thanks to the fact that he kept in contact with his friends during his stay in Poland, his absorption was rapid – both socially and academically. Special computer skills – software and hardware, Gadi purchased more at the American School in Poland, and he continued to develop them during this period and became a real expert / professional in the field. In 2001-2004, Gadi studied at the “Amit” high school in Rishon Letzion, specializing in social sciences. This period was filled with activities: studies, home and family and friends, volunteering activities, participation in the “Young Diplomats” urban circle and, above all, preparing for combat service in the “Amit Lakshor” IDF. .