First Sergeant Major rafi balalty
Etti, Rafi’s mother: Rafi took advantage of every moment in his life to have fun, travel and be happy. He was a mischievous boy and with that always inspired an aura of confidence and he also knew to give himself boundaries. Even when he was in the army, we were more scared of car accidents and less of the dangers of the army service. Until now, when [we] talk about Rafi, it is hard to believe that he is gone. It is hard for me to accept that he was killed at a young age in a stupid accident.”
Machloof, his father: “I lost more than a son. He was a good friend, a man of secrets that had everything. I was in the army as a permanent soldier for many years and Rafi wanted to extend his service in my footsteps. He loved the army very much. When I heard about the tragedy, I was at the Adi lookout. I exited the office, crossed the path and saw all of Emek Yizrael in front of me. This place that Rafi loved so much and covered every inch of, suddenly took on a much stronger meaning. We take strength from the different memorializing actions we take in his memory. The memorials give us air to keep living with this. The pain is immense and with that when I hear for example that kids are going to Rafi Park here in Migdal HaEmek, it gives me great satisfaction.”
Machloof, his father: “I lost more than a son. He was a good friend, a man of secrets that had everything. I was in the army as a permanent soldier for many years and Rafi wanted to extend his service in my footsteps. He loved the army very much. When I heard about the tragedy, I was at the Adi lookout. I exited the office, crossed the path and saw all of Emek Yizrael in front of me. This place that Rafi loved so much and covered every inch of, suddenly took on a much stronger meaning. We take strength from the different memorializing actions we take in his memory. The memorials give us air to keep living with this. The pain is immense and with that when I hear for example that kids are going to Rafi Park here in Migdal HaEmek, it gives me great satisfaction.”