Efraim Shneor

Efraim (Efi), son of Naomi and Yehoshua, was born on the 7th of Shevat 5711 (14.1.1951) in Mikveh Israel.

Until the age of five he grew up in Kvutzat Devrat, of which his parents were members. From the age of six he studied at the Degania elementary school in Be'er Sheva, and afterward continued his studies at the military boarding school near the Herzliya Gymnasium, in the science-electronics-physics track.

Efi was an outstanding student. His teacher said of him: "He had a broad range of knowledge and was interested in many fields. He had a sharp eye for distinguishing between the essential and the trivial, between the desirable and the actual. He both preached well and practiced well, without compromise. From his teachers he demanded candor and honesty, and from himself, consistency, perseverance and devotion to a goal." In high school he achieved good results and won second place in the Knowledge of the Land competition for a paper on the water supply to Jerusalem. In recognition of his achievements in his studies, in training and in conduct, he was awarded a scholarship for the purchase of books. The commander of the military boarding school testified about him: "He was a very thorough person, who always aspired to learn and to know things to their depths." In 1967 an article about Efi's day, titled "The Boarding School from Within," was published in the newspaper Bamahane-Gadna.

Efi was a member of the Scouts movement and loved to go to work camps, to hike and to tour the length and breadth of the country. He was a sports enthusiast and especially loved football and volleyball. Electronics was his main hobby, and he spent much time building electronic devices and improving them. He also found leisure time for music, and in order to release the tension of everyday life, he painted with a brush and carved in wood. Efi was industrious and energetic, diligent and did his work with great care, without pride and without arrogance. He was optimistic and cheerful, and had an excellent sense of humor. He was open-hearted, a speaker of truth, very honest and conscientious. He loved his family very much, consulted them on every matter and felt respect and esteem for his parents.

Efi was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of August 1969 and was posted to the Air Force. He began to train in the pilots' course, but after some time he volunteered to serve in the Golani Brigade. He completed the infantry squad commanders' course and the infantry officers' course. Afterward he was sent to the company commanders' course, but a week later he was called back to his battalion and was appointed company commander.

In their evaluation of him his commanders wrote: "He is very independent, devoted to his work, full of initiative, knows how to organize and prepare himself for situations expected in the future. He knows how to anticipate developments in advance and knows how to prepare for them. He is devoted to his unit and invests great energy in improving its condition. He is intelligent and responsible, devoted and capable, level-headed and of good comprehension, possessed of a strong and very deep willpower."

One of his fellow officers said of him: "Efi was ready to take upon himself the most difficult assignments, and he carried them out with devotion. He instilled strong discipline in his unit, with constant concern for his subordinates. The soldiers did not appreciate this concern, but when he left, they felt and noticed that it was he who had taken such care for the best conditions, which they enjoyed beyond all the other companies in the brigade."

In the Yom Kippur War Efi took part in the battles against the Syrians on the Golan Heights front. He was hit and fell in battle on the 12th of Tishrei 5734 (8.10.1973) on the slopes of Hermon, and was laid to rest in the cemetery in Be'er Sheva.

He left behind parents and two brothers. After his death he was promoted to the rank of Captain and was awarded the "Medal of Courage" for displaying heroism in the performance of a combat duty with disregard for his own life.

And this is the description of the deed: "On 8 October 1973, Lieutenant Efi Shneor, of blessed memory, was attached to the battalion that ascended Hermon. During the battle it became clear that the spearhead force of the reconnaissance unit had to be extricated. Lieutenant Efi Shneor, of blessed memory, who did not belong to the unit, volunteered to head the extrication force. The force climbed up the mountain under fire. At one stage the operator of the recoilless anti-tank rifle was killed. Lieutenant Efi Shneor, of blessed memory, took the rifle from him, fired a shell and destroyed an enemy position. Afterward he organized an attack on that same position and captured it under heavy fire. After the capture of the position he was killed. In these actions he displayed exemplary courage, coolness, leadership ability and devotion to the mission."

In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: "The headquarters staff did not particularly like Efi, because he was a fighter for absolute justice and honesty. If there was any area in which Efi was not willing to give an inch, it was concern for the soldier, for the individual. Despite our differences of opinion, I would not have exchanged him for any other company commander in the battalion, because I always preferred officers who have to be held back to those who have to be pushed. Efi was a first-rate fighter. His success as an officer came to him, in no small part, by virtue of his being a good soldier."

His parents published a booklet in his memory containing words about his character, reminiscences, letters and photographs; his battalion published a booklet in memory of its fallen, with Efi among them; his parents donated money for three study scholarships for three students, among them Golani Brigade veterans; a group of his friends in Be'er Sheva dedicated to his memory a grove in the Lahav Forest, where they used to go with him to gather mushrooms.