In Memoriam of:
Yossi Aftelon
Age: 77
From: Semipalatinsk (Kazakhstan)/Kibbutz Be'eri
In Loving Memory of the Innocent Souls Taken Too Soon. United in peace, their light shines on in the hearts left behind. October 7, 2023, a day of sorrow, but their memories guide us toward a hopeful tomorrow.
Yossi Aftelon, z"l,
Yossi Aftelon was born as Sigmund (Ziggy) in 1946 in Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, the third child of his parents Kuba Vola, brother to Nina and Eliza, his older sisters who loved him very much. The difficult conditions at the end of World War II caused the family to split up, the sisters were separated and immigrated to Israel as part of the youth immigration to Kibbutz Ein Harod and Ziggy remained with his parents in Poland. Only when he was four years old did his parents manage to come to Eretz Israel and reunite with the girls.
On a trip to Eilat, Yossi and his wife, Roni, had a terrible car accident, where another passonger died and Yossi lost a hand.
In the 1980s, they arrived at Kibbutz Be'eri, who welcomed the professionals in the printing industry. They brought with them an important dowry: the "photo sequence" machine, the like of which was not yet in the kibbutz... In addition to the technological and professional knowledge, they also brought their unique characters to the kibbutz: Roni was boisterous and sharp-tongued, Yossi was soft and contained, and together they had a wonderful sense of humor And a great love for culture: cinema, literature and music.
Yossi spent many hours cultivating his children's abilities in sports, music, and at the same time he loved the shifts in the 'Shechams' and the annual trips.
As a very family and loving man, he made sure to maintain a personal and special relationship with all four of his children who live in the kibbutz and with all of his grandchildren: Shani, Amit, Hadas, Nahar, Goma, Alin, Nir, Shahar, Maayan, Ella, Yoel, Omri and Gili.
In the last decade, Yossi was very involved in the creation of the kibbutz archive and was involved in documenting and preserving private, family and kibbutz history. At this time, he also gave space to his personal expression and his rich art through painting. He also recently completed a book about Roni, his wife who passed away two years ago.
Yossi Aftelon was born as Sigmund (Ziggy) in 1946 in Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, the third child of his parents Kuba Vola, brother to Nina and Eliza, his older sisters who loved him very much. The difficult conditions at the end of World War II caused the family to split up, the sisters were separated and immigrated to Israel as part of the youth immigration to Kibbutz Ein Harod and Ziggy remained with his parents in Poland. Only when he was four years old did his parents manage to come to Eretz Israel and reunite with the girls.
On a trip to Eilat, Yossi and his wife, Roni, had a terrible car accident, where another passonger died and Yossi lost a hand.
In the 1980s, they arrived at Kibbutz Be'eri, who welcomed the professionals in the printing industry. They brought with them an important dowry: the "photo sequence" machine, the like of which was not yet in the kibbutz... In addition to the technological and professional knowledge, they also brought their unique characters to the kibbutz: Roni was boisterous and sharp-tongued, Yossi was soft and contained, and together they had a wonderful sense of humor And a great love for culture: cinema, literature and music.
Yossi spent many hours cultivating his children's abilities in sports, music, and at the same time he loved the shifts in the 'Shechams' and the annual trips.
As a very family and loving man, he made sure to maintain a personal and special relationship with all four of his children who live in the kibbutz and with all of his grandchildren: Shani, Amit, Hadas, Nahar, Goma, Alin, Nir, Shahar, Maayan, Ella, Yoel, Omri and Gili.
In the last decade, Yossi was very involved in the creation of the kibbutz archive and was involved in documenting and preserving private, family and kibbutz history. At this time, he also gave space to his personal expression and his rich art through painting. He also recently completed a book about Roni, his wife who passed away two years ago.
Upon learning of his murder, his cousin Carmela said: "The world is a less good place since he is gone... The wise, generous, loving, sensitive and valuable man will be so missed by his nuclear family, his extended family, his kibbutz friends and his childhood friends and the whole world."
