Master Sgt. Asher-Reuven Ashi Novik, z”l

Master Sergeant (Res.) Asher-Reuven Novik, the third child of Perl-Shila and Izzy-Yitzhak, younger brother to Lior and Tania and older brother to Barak, husband of Osnat and father of Yuval and Itai, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to a Zionist family. When he was seven years old, his family immigrated to Israel. At first, they lived in Ra’anana and later moved to Kfar Aharon in Ness Ziona, where Ashi attended the “HaRishonim” elementary school. Ashi quickly integrated into his new class and was well-liked and popular among his peers. He later studied at the Ben Gurion High School. A charming young man, a natural-born leader, he was always surrounded by friends. Optimistic, hardworking, creative, and full of joy.

From childhood, Ashi loved people and the land. He also had a great love for the sea. From a young age, he engaged in sailboarding and later in diving and extreme water sports.

In 1988, Ashi enlisted in the IDF and volunteered for YALTAM, the Underwater Combat Unit. Due to a medical issue, he left the unit and joined the Yael Reconnaissance Unit. At the end of his mandatory service, he was discharged from the IDF but continued to serve in the reserves in an elite Paratroopers Combat Engineering Company (Palchan).

In 1994, Ashi married his childhood sweetheart, Osnat, whom he had known since the age of twelve and a half. The couple had two children: Yuval and Itai. Ashi’s family was his entire world, and he was an exemplary husband and father. They first lived in Ness Ziona. A year later, they moved to the north due to Ashi’s work managing “Burger King” branches and later “Burger Ranch” branches in northern Israel. They built their home in the community of Kanaf in the Golan Heights. Ashi, gifted with “golden hands,” built the kitchen and furniture with his own hands and designed and planted the garden.

In his youth, Ashi studied at university for a year and left. He then decided to complete his studies. He enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in business administration, which he completed at the beginning of 2006. Ashi was appointed manager of “Dugal,” the vacation complex of Moshav Kanaf on the Sea of Galilee, and proved to be a professional, attentive, respected, and beloved CEO.

In July 2006, the Second Lebanon War broke out. Ashi collected donations for his unit until he was called up on an emergency order. Before he left, Ashi left Osnat a note: “Take care of our two treasures until I return. You are the greatest treasure I have ever been given, and I intend to be with you until old age and beyond.”

On August 8, Ashi entered Lebanon with his battalion. On their way to an operation, the force stationed itself in a house in the village of Debel.

On August 9, 2006 (15th of Av, the Jewish love holiday), Ashi fell in battle along with eight of his comrades. Two missiles hit the house where they were staying in Debel. He was 36 years old. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of Ma’ale Gamla. Ashi’s daughter wrote to him: “I want you to always remember us in your heart, and we will remember you every moment we can and in every minute. I love you endlessly.”

May his memory be blessed.