In Memory of Shlomo

Shlomo is dead, killed in a shootout with an enemy terrorist.


I have not slept normally for days now. Every time I shut my eyes to sleep, I have a flood of memories of my beloved friend, neighbor, and member of the anti-terrorist squad. The only thing to do is to put the thoughts on paper. Only in the past couple of years have we have grown so close together. Being Shlomo's neighbor, I got to see him from many angles that most people didn't merit to see. I saw how Shlomo totally immersed himself in each project that he was called upon to accomplish.

In Hebrew, Shlomo is called a "projector" - a man with the ability of pushing forward many projects at once. That was my neighbor. At the age of fourteen, he came as an Oley Chadash from South Africa. In a short time he mastered the language, finished high school successfully, and was drafted to a combat unit. Shlomo fought in the Yom Kipper war, saving the lives of many soldiers as a combat medic. He was amongst the last of soldiers who remained with Raful in Nafa(Golan). Shlomo also fought bravely in the Lebanese war, getting himself and other wounded solders out of a mine field.

Shlomo was one of the founders of Atsmona, by Tel Arish in Gush Katif. He set up a store for marketing Atsmona's flowers, in the heart of Tel Aviv. Subsequently, Shlomo set up a Jewish construction team that built the houses of Kfar Darom, where, through Shlomo's thoroughness, the walls were built thickly, which later saved lives during the period of terrorist sniping.

Shlomo also lived in the Golan, working as a 'projector', planting trees and flowers for other farmers. He came to Itamar to advance our agricultural endeavors by selling our products by direct marketing. After working with us for a short time, Shlomo invested his energies in Avry Ran's farm by building up the foundations of a tremendous direct marketing system which supports dozens of families.

Shlomo's next project was working with in Tnuva, setting up an entire 'Otzar Beait Din' project for the Sabbatical year. During that turbulent time, Shlomo crisscrossed the country, driving to distant farmers and markets on the same day. He helped Tnuva sell millions of shekels worth of produce under the guidance and strict supervision of the 'Rabanut'.

It was a time when people feared to travel. Shlomo went wherever it was necessary, sometimes through showers of rocks and even gun fire. At times Shlomo had to drive the truck to deliver to troublesome areas, in the middle of the night, as drivers were too frightened. I remember one incident in our area where his truck was shot at. Shlomo got out with his pistol-uzie in hand and chased off a Kaltchnik armed terrorist. Shlomo's devotion to his job at Tnuva was incredible. His boss would find him working through his lunch break until late at night, sometimes sleeping in his office, in order to get up early to start working the next day.

Shlomo's next project was to save all the educational institutions of Itamar, which had fallen into great dept, and threatened the jobs of most of the families in the settlement. Shlomo worked day and night going to government officials, or who ever could help. A fellow settler told me how once Shlomo took him to a very high official that had the final say about Itamar's educational institutions. To meet this official, usually one had to wait half a year. Shlomo said they would meet him today, without an appointment.

Before getting out of the car, Shlomo told his friend that they must prepare themselves psychologically by knowing what they are representing a very important goal which is critical for the continuation of this settlement area. Second, he said that he has nothing to gain on a personal level; actually, the opposite is true. As soon as he succeeds in restoring financial order, he will have no more job. He said 'You have another job, too. Both of us are representing the 'Tzeebur', without any personal interest for self-advancement'. Then Shlomo asked him 'Who are we going to talk to'? He answered; 'To a left-winger'. Shlomo replied 'No, this person must by thought of with respect, for he did not attain such a high-ranking office without being truly worthy. Still our mission is more important for the good of the public'.

With these thoughts in mind, they entered the office, and waited from 8oo A.M. to 530 P.M., seemingly for nothing. As the high official left his office for home, he turned to Shlomo and said to him in astonishment 'Are you still here'? After a brief discussion, the official invited them to his office. The fruits of this critical meeting are that Itamar's educational institutions were re-organized and are now flourishing, with hundreds of students coming from all over the country to learn.

As an outcome of his being fired, he was ready for his next project. At this time, Itamar was struck by one terrorist attack after another. More than a dozen people were killed. The members of the settlement were stunned. Something had to be dome. Shlomo was called, then, to do his next-and unfortunately-his last, mission. Shlomo acted quickly, calling in security experts to figure out the right strategy. Amongst the various systems employed were trained attack dogs, a special camera system, an electric fence and the establishment of a civilian anti-terrorist squad. To achieve there goals, Shlomo worked day and night with complete self-sacrifice. He had to cut through a forest of bureaucracy to move each project forward. Ultimately he succeeded in almost all there endeavors, saving additional lives in spite of unremitting terrorist attacks.

I remember how Shlomo convinced me to join the anti-terrorist squad, and how I dropped everything that I was doing; farming and processing my produce, in order to ensure that the project would have the necessary number of fighters. While traveling to one of our many training sessions, Shlomo told me that if he is ever attacked, he would get to the spot of the attack, jump out of the security car, and charge the terrorist. Little did I know that Shlomo was describing how he was to complete his last mission.

Three days ago, a terrorist shot at a few settlement cars. Shlomo was almost instantly on the spot. He was last heard reporting over the radio that he was being shot at. Then he was seen from a distance stopping his car under fire, and bravely jumping out to engage the terrorist in a head to head shoot-out.

''Oh how the hero's have fallen.''
Shortly after Shlomo fell, his body was found with his arms tensed, in the position as if he was still holding his gun. Two members of the anti-terrorist unit that Shlomo had trained came to avenge his death. They fought exactly how they had been trained, taking down the terrorist with precise gun fire. Three fighters, Shlomo's men, prevented the terrorist from continuing his killing spree, saving more Jewish lives.

How can we continue his legacy? Three days before Shlomo was killed, he came to me in great excitement, showing me the plans of a new multi-purpose building as a home of some of the small business that exist in the settlement. I looked at Shlomo in disbelief, not knowing how he had found the time to work on this project at his own expense; moving the project, stage after stage. I believe in Shlomo's vision in creation a strong economic base in the heart of the Samaria. Only by doing this project will we be able to create new badly needed jobs, thus increasing the amount of job opportunities for new and existing families.

One thing that struck me the most about Shlomo, was how he found the time not only to be the servant of the public, but also to be a loving father and husband. Every day Shlomo would sit down with each child to learn Torah. Shlomo occupied his children with animal husbandry and farming. He built each child, preparing them with the spiritual strength needed for his un-timely death. In a settlement with 15 killed, 30 orphans, and all the settlement members grieving the loss of close friends or family, it is hard to grow God fearing children. Many children have hard questions, and not enough answers. Shlomo's children were different.

The Miller's home was like the eye of the tornado, quiet and calm inside, but surrounded by turbulent winds. They live in a small rented house with seven children in two rooms. Never have I heard screaming between family members. The house is always full of love. Shlomo always tried to make life more comfortable for his family, taking them often on short trips (including some of my children). He also encouraged me to take my family on vacation, telling me not to underestimate the importance of a family outing. My children looked at the Miller family as a second home. Shlomo was a friend always with a word of encouragement in regards to bringing up the family, or continuing the factory project.

The source of Shlomo's success in every project was his gift to put spirituality in the material world, always looking at things not for what they are today, but what they should be according to the spiritual vision of our prophets. Shlomo was a devoted follower of the late Rav Tzvi Yehuda, and his students. His actions were much greater that his learning, and yet his actions themselves, were learning for everything that he did was guided by Rav Kook's teachings.

I miss Shlomo dearly, and long to see him learn in the Synagogue, or zip around the settlement in the security vehicle. Alas, now I will only see Shlomo in my memories. My pain is relieved by knowing that Shlomo's spirit is still 'Shlomo the Projector', and his spirit is still helping us push ahead more projects that will bring closer the final redemption.

Alon Zimmerman
resident and one of the founders of Itamar

© Copyright 5764, 5765 by author and Tsel Harim

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