Susan R. Eisenstein: A Series Honoring Israel’s Fallen and Wounded Heroes
So, for this year, Yom Hazikaron has passed. But it has not, not really. And it never really will ever pass, not any day of any year. The precious lights and souls that our nation has lost all too early due to senseless, baseless hatred, centuries of false narratives, historically incorrect and re-written narratives, and death informed ideology, need to be remembered and honored worldwide, ALWAYS, by all persons. Their stories show the waste, horror, and the cost of evil. And their stories need to remind the world of a nation’s people who are killed and murdered and live under threat every day, simply for being HUMAN and defending their country, simply for wanting to live in peace, be allowed to grow up, have dreams, a profession, a life like everyone else, and bring goodness and kindness to the world. They were mothers, fathers, siblings, cousins, grandparents and friends. And the positive gifts that they would have brought to the world, will now never be known.
May their memories be for a blessing
I begin this series by telling the story of Master Sergeant (res) Raz Zion Abulafia z”l. Raz resided in Rishpon, Israel and was 27 years old when he fell on November 13th in northern Gaza. Raz Abulafia served as a combat soldier in the 6863rd Battalion of the Negev Reserve Brigade. He is survived by his parents, Yehoshua and Miriam and his sister Romi.
And Raz Zion Abulafia has a newly discovered phage KpRaz1, (a bacteriophage or phage is a virus that infects and replicates within bacteria) named in his memory. The phage was discovered by Sigal Vorzhev, Raz’s life partner, when she was researching at the Israeli Phage Therapy Center at Hebrew University and Hadassah.
But I also want to give you a glimpse into Raz Zion Abulafia’s life. So I am sharing with you what Itamar Hayun, founder of “Homes for Warriors,” shared with me, about Raz Abulafia, of blessed memory,
“Raz Abulafia was in my company and I was in Gaza when he fell. I know many friends who knew him much better than I did, but his loss was deeply felt by all of us. Raz was a musician. I used to see him in the company before entering Gaza, playing the guitar. He was a quiet person, a big guy. I was in Gaza on the same day it happened.”
A friend of Raz, Tomer, who was from Raz’s team, also shared his words here, words that mean so much that Tomer’s mother shared them at her workplace.
Tomer wrote, “Raz was born and raised in Rishpon. He loved music from a young age and played various musical instruments. Music was not just a hobby for him, but a way of life — it accompanied him every step of the way.”
“In 2015, he enlisted in the Givati Brigade, where he served as a brave and dedicated soldier, and continued to serve in the reserves as well. Wherever he was, both in the army and in life, he radiated positive energy, a big smile and a huge heart. Beyond being a soldier, for me he was my best friend. A brother in the journey and in the team, someone who always knew how to lift us up in difficult moments, strengthen us, make us laugh and remind us what true brotherhood means. In the difficult battle in Beit Hanoun, Raz fell while giving his all— with courage, devotion and love for his country and his friends. Raz leaves behind family, friends and an entire team who continue to carry his memory. His path, his music and his great friendship will forever remain a part of me, and a part of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
May his memory be a blessing. May God avenge his blood.”
Tomer also sent the link to the video below as well as the photos of himself with Major Raz Zion Abulafia z”l.
https://youtu.be/lQsLS3NxG_o?si=BOaoiqE_MvJWtbpF
