Sgt. Maj. Roi Avraham Maimon, z”l

Sergeant Major (Res.) Roi Avraham Maimon, the eldest son of Ariela and Yair, brother of Neta, Tamar, Ora, and Yoel, and partner of Noya, was born in Haifa and grew up in Afula. He was a child with a radiant smile and shining eyes. Roee was raised on the values of Zionism and love of the land. His grandfather was a community rabbi in France, and his great-grandfather was a rabbi in Afula in its early days. In high school, Roi studied at “Nir HaEmek” in Afula. He was a friendly, involved, and caring student. 

He was a participant in the “Acharai! Youth Leading Change” movement and a member of the “Unistream” organization in Afula. After high school, he studied at the “Echad Mishelanu” pre-military leadership program in Mitzpe Ilan. He stayed for a second year to mentor a younger cohort as a graduate. At the same time, he participated in the “180 Degrees – Sports Without Limits” organization and supported young people with disabilities in sports activities. Roi was a man of giving and love, a symbol of humanity and sensitivity, who always saw the good in everything and would often say, “Everything is for the best.” It was important to him not to cause suffering, not even to animals. As a teenager, he decided to become a vegan and participated in demonstrations and campaigns for animal rights.

Roi enlisted in the Combat Engineering Corps, in the elite Yahalom Unit, in March 2019, and became a fighter in the Yael Reconnaissance Detachment. He went through the medics’ course and was assigned to his unit as a combat medic. After a rigorous selection process, Roi was chosen to attend the paramedics’ course, after which he returned to his unit as a combat paramedic. Already in his first mission as a paramedic, Roi saved lives. When praised for it, he humbly said, “I was just doing my job.” Roi participated in dozens of operational missions, for which his unit received the Southern Command Chief of Staff’s Citation, fulfilling his role with professionalism, responsibility, and composure. He continued saving lives even after his discharge, as a volunteer with Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah. Together with his partner, Noya, he planned a big post-army trip to East Asia.

On October 7, 2023, the holiday of Simchat Torah 5784, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack on Israel. Under the cover of barrages of thousands of rockets, thousands of armed terrorists crossed the border into Israel, infiltrating cities and taking control of communities, outposts, and bases. The terrorists murdered around eight hundred civilians and abducted hundreds of Israelis to the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of security personnel fell in battle. Following the attack, Israel entered a state of war. Roi had been discharged from the army only six months earlier and was exempt from reserve duty. Nevertheless, when he heard that paramedics were urgently needed, he reported to his unit. He participated in numerous complex missions and saved the lives of many fighters during the war.

On January 8, 2024, Roi fell in battle in the central Gaza Strip. He was 24 years old. Roi was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Afula. His father eulogized him: “It was important to you to defend your homeland. You said you were fighting so that civilians could live normal lives and also rejoice.”

May his memory be blessed.