In their deaths did not part: Lt. Col. Ophir Weintraub enlisted in the Armored Corps and served in the 7th Brigade alongside his friend, the late Captain Dmitry (Dima) Levits, who was killed in Operation Eitan Cliff. Lt. Col. Naaman Heller, who also enlisted in the Armored Forces, served alongside his good friend the late Sgt. Alexander Bonimovich, who was killed in the last day of the Lebanon War.
After the death of their friends, Weintraub and Heller make sure to keep in touch with members of the families of the victims, who see them as part of the family.
"Ophir is like my child," shares Marina, the mother of the late Dima. Heller also joined the Bonimovich family. "I am full of appreciation for Tal, Alexander's brother, and his parents, who are role models."
The two tell of the friends they lost, the great pain and the life in the shadow of memory.
"I think the words 'the power of silence' are very characteristic of Dima, and that accompanies me to this day as a commander and as a person," Weintraub says.
"The ground has slipped under my feet": Lt. Col. Ofir Weintraub tells of the late Captain Dmitry (Dima) Levits
The late Captain Dmitry (Dima) Levits and 77th Battalion Lt. Col. Ofir Weintraub were best friends. They both enlisted in 2007 and grew up together in the 7th Brigade in parallel positions and in different battalions. .
Dima started his service in the 75th Battalion and was a company commander in the 82nd Battalion. Ofir started in the 77th Battalion and then was a company commander in the 75th Battalion.
Dima fell in battle in Operation Eitan, on July 25, 2014, when he was 25 years old.
"We met by chance a few days before entering Gaza. We had a somewhat surreal friends conversation between trees in the field. Two friends exchanging experiences over a cigarette after not seeing each other for a while," Weintraub says of the last day he spoke to Dima.
Lt. Col. Weintraub with Dima's mother, Marina, Photo: Liron Moldovan
He heard about Dima's death from someone from the battalion, who went to him to tell him the bitter news in person.
"I remember the shock. The ground is slipping under your feet. I did not believe it could happen to one of my best friends. I remember myself sitting and trying to figure out what to do now."
After the war, Weintraub met with Dima's mother, Marina Levits.
The two did not see each other while Dima was alive, but heard quite a bit through the person closest to their hearts, who connected them to this day.
"Dima was surrounded by people who really liked him," says mother Marina.
"I heard about Ofir Medima, and I remember they started studying together, but I did not get to his apartment then.
"I fell in love with Ophir," says Marina, recounting the connection between them, which has become very close since her son's fall.
Ophir is quick to say that it is a mutual connection.
"They are very similar in their character, Dima and Ophir. They have a special combination of qualities, such as gentleness, charisma, wisdom, shyness and lightness. Ophir has the special energy that Dima had. I remember telling my daughter at first, when we met, how surprised I am that they are so surprised Similar, "adds Marina.
The late Captain Dmitry Levitt, Photo: Courtesy of the family
"Ophir is like my child, and I take care of him a lot even after he gets married and has a family. For me, a large part of Dima remains in him, as with all of Dima's friends. Although my son no longer lives, every friend of his has a part of him that stays alive ", She shares the pain.
To these words of Marina, Ophir replies: "I wish I was like Dima. I think the words 'the power of silence' are very characteristic of him, and that accompanies me to this day as a commander and as a person.
"Marina is basically like another mother to me, she cares if I do not call or if I do not answer her. There is something very embracing in Marina, and when I come to her I feel I do not have to say anything. She looks me in the eyes and knows everything. She has a look. Just like Dima's, he would look at me and know what was going on in my heart. "
"We all remember him as if he lived among us": Lt. Col. Naaman Heller tells of the late Sgt. Alexander Bonimovich
Tal Bonimovich and Lt. Col. Naaman Heller, Operations Officer of the Southern Command, are excited to meet each other. They embrace each other bravely. Tal is the younger brother of the late Sgt. At Sportek Yahalom in Netanya, during the Second Lebanon War, Alexander was on the tank team of Major Banya Rein - "Construction Force" - which worked to rescue stuck tanks and rescue wounded under fire.
In the last day of the war, 12.08.2006, the tank was hit by a missile during a rescue mission and the entire crew was killed.
Alexander and the other members of the tank received a death certificate for their rescue operations after their deaths.
"Sasha was 12 years older than me, when he was killed I was 6 years old," says Tal. He would take me to the bowling alley, eat ice cream or take a walk.
Lt. Col. Heller with Alexander's brother, Tal,
"He finished a tank commanders course and then the war started. He was not supposed to take part in the fighting, but it burned in him. He did not want to sit on the sidelines. He joined the construction team. The night he was killed my father and I went to sleep. Mother had thoughts and she did not fall asleep. "Tonight there was a knock on the door. I remember military men coming and I remember my grandparents' shouts. I remember my dad going back and forth and my mom looking to check that I was okay. Then my mom's message that Sasha would not be back."
About the relationship with Naaman, Tal says: "Naaman and Sasha have known each other since the first day of training. They were best friends and did the route together. The family stayed in touch with him. And can not come. "
The late Sgt. Alexander Bonimovich, Photo: Courtesy of the family
"I enlisted with Alex in 2005," says Lt. Col. Heller.
He returned to be a commander in the 46th Battalion and I remained to be an instructor in a commanders course.
After a month the war broke out and Alex was killed.
"I recently finished my role as Battalion 46, Alex's Battalion, which is an amazing closing circle for me."
About Alex Naaman's family says that "we have a relationship like in the family. I am full of appreciation for Tal and his parents, who are role models. I knew Alex for a year, and you understand that this personality comes from somewhere. He had a values base, and that is the respect I have for parents His. They instilled these qualities in him. Tal is very similar to him, both in character and appearance. Tal did not know him well enough. He knows him from the people's stories. It's amazing to see how he is very reminiscent of Alex. "We remember him as if he lived among us. Everywhere he went, he led, in training, in training, and certainly in a commanders' course."
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