Staff Sgt. Eliran Toli Toledano, z”l

Staff Sergeant Eliran (Tuli) Toledano, son of Fanny and Yehoshua, the younger brother of Sharon, Itzik, Ofer, and Arik, and the older brother of Gabi and Ronit, was a smiling, creative, and calm child who loved to write stories and illustrate them.

During his childhood, Eliran’s family moved several times. At first, the family lived in Kiryat Ata. When Eliran was four years old, they moved to Arad, where he attended kindergarten and “Labaot” Elementary School. From Arad, the family moved to Migdal and from there to Yavni’el. Eliran studied at the Kadoorie Agricultural School, majoring in environmental quality. When the family relocated to Poria Illit, Eliran transferred to “Beit Yerach” High School, majoring in sociology and film. In every place, Eliran quickly integrated, was an outstanding and well-liked student, and was surrounded by friends. He kept in touch with friends he had met everywhere he lived and had friends all over the country. Affectionately, people called him “Tuli.”

Eliran was a charming young man – a person of values, intelligent, and funny, beautiful inside and out. He loved music, especially Black music – hip hop, reggae, and dub – and he loved to dance. After graduating high school, he postponed his enlistment and went to work at the Ganei Yam HaMelach Hotel in Ein Bokek. There, too, he made friends and was liked and loved by all. He used to gather his thoughts and memories in journals he called “Archives.” In one of his letters, he wrote: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is unknown, and today is a gift.”

In November 2000, Eliran enlisted in the IDF Engineering Corps, in the NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) unit. As always, he performed every task assigned to him with excellence. Eliran attended a squad leaders’ course and became a platoon sergeant in basic training. During the commanders’ course, he wrote his credo as a commander: “I want to become the commander who has all the qualities, actions, and other things that I, as a soldier, wanted in my commanders…” He became an admired and beloved commander, a symbol of professionalism and humanity to both his soldiers and his commanders. After he fell, his commander said: “Eliran was an admired commander who knew how to win the hearts of his soldiers thanks to his special and exceptional leadership… a key figure in shaping an outstanding generation of male and female combat soldiers.”

As his discharge approached, Eliran was offered the opportunity to serve at the Induction Center, where he would enlist combat soldiers and return home every day. However, he chose to continue serving alongside his fellow fighters and contribute as much as he could. He planned to be discharged, travel abroad, rent an apartment in Tel Aviv, and study design.

On 23 September 2003, Eliran fell in the line of duty in an operational accident at “Shdema” Base in Bethlehem. A bulldozer accidentally hit a barrier behind which Eliran was standing, and he was killed. He was 22 years old. Eliran was laid to rest in the Tiberias Military Cemetery. “Your soul accompanies us, the whole family, everywhere,” his family wrote.

May his memory be blessed.