Ali Kimhi

Ali, son of Victoria and Dov, was born on 9 Kislev 5712 (8.12.1951) in Acre and studied at the "HaTomer" elementary school in Acre. Afterwards he completed his studies at the "Kaf-Gimel Yordei HaSira" Naval Officers' School in Acre.

Ali spent the first years of his life at the "Yad Natan" experimental station near Acre, where he spent many hours in the lap of nature. When he was five years old his family moved to live in Acre, and a year later he began his schooling.

In a letter to his parents, Ali's teacher in grades 6-8 wrote: "I remember Ali as a boy with beautiful, mischievous eyes, a mane of hair and a sharp gaze. He was a gifted student, and when I wanted a fine answer to my questions, in a Bible lesson or a history lesson, I would turn to Ali and let him voice his opinion; and of course, I always received brilliant and unusual ideas. Orderliness was far from him, but this did not stop him from taking an interest in the problems of the world and of science and from reading many books. He was well accepted in the group and was known as a good friend."

In his last years of elementary school Ali joined the "HaTzofim" (Scouts) youth movement and took part in the activities of the "Sea Scouts", in the sailing circle shared by Jewish and Arab youth. From childhood Ali had special inclinations and great talent for drawing, and he worked in charcoal and marker drawings and sometimes even in oil paintings.

Ali was drafted into the IDF in April 1970 and volunteered for the Navy. After basic training he took a mechanics course and was posted as a mechanic in the Missile Boat Flotilla. After several months of service in the Missile Boat Flotilla he asked to transfer to serve in the Naval Commando. His request was granted, and he successfully passed the difficult and grueling courses intended to prepare him for his new role. Ali was very successful in his role in the Naval Commando and faithfully and efficiently carried out the missions assigned to him.

When the Yom Kippur War broke out, his unit was sent to carry out various missions against the enemy at sea. On the eleventh day of the war Ali set out with several of his comrades in the unit on a daring mission. He was sent to the port of Port Said to sink Egyptian warships that were anchored in a protected military anchorage. Ali and his teammate, Oded Amir, succeeded in reaching the anchorage and even sank three warships, among them a missile boat and a torpedo boat, but they did not return from their mission.

The findings of the inquiry into their fate strengthened the opinion that Ali and his comrade met their deaths during the withdrawal from the area of the operation, and Ali was declared missing. His sister, Ofira, wrote a letter to Jehan Sadat, wife of the President of Egypt, and even received a reply: "Ali's body was not found" - so it was stated in the letter.

Some time later a monument was erected in Ali's memory on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, in the plot for the memory of IDF fallen whose burial place is unknown. The date of his death was set as 21 Tishrei 5734 (17.10.1973). Ali left behind parents and a sister.

After his death he was awarded the Medal of Courage and promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class. In his military service Ali took part in many dangerous commando operations, among them several operations that were cleared for publication - the commando operation in Beirut and the aerial battle in September 1973, in which a Syrian plane was shot down together with its pilot. Ali drew the pilot out of the sea, freed him from the parachute and gave him back his life.

His family published a printed collection of his drawings and, in cooperation with the Acre Municipality, the Workers' Council, Yad LaBanim and the Committee for the Soldier, established a scholarship fund in his name to encourage elementary school students in Acre. The fallen soldier is a "Makal'n" - a fallen soldier whose burial place is unknown.