News March 2024
Announcement
Today, approaching the end of the eighth decade of my life, I am engaged in collecting evidence of the long path I have taken in researching Israeli song, and its thorough and widespread endowment to my many students. This last dream is being fulfilled now. This is the local-Zionist aspect of me, alongside the international aspect as an artistic composer who has left her mark in the cultural pluralism of our region, the Middle East.
The Zionist entity would not have grown in me without the meaningful presence of Uri Maimon in my life, since we shared the same class as teenagers. He noticed me in the schoolyard of the Reali Hebrew School in Haifa and "tore me off" my loneliness, a shy girl from Hadar Hacarmel, and brought me to "Gdud Eyal" that was active in Ahuza. In that group we were all very close friends. Later, with additional members from all over the country, we established "Garin Dagan" later joining Kibbutz Hatzerim. Uri, the "spearhead of the bunch", was killed in Yom Kippur War. In his name we founded the "Hugei Siyur" ("tour classes") that are still alive and kicking throughout Israel.
Years have passed, filled with activities and professional achievements, and the long evenings of temperamental value debates in the corner of our Bunker on Mount Carmel still live within me.
During all those years, the hill next to Uri's house – none other than "Horshat Habanim" (fallen memorial grove) – has been nurtured. I have noticed it is visited by many hikers. Its view is breathtaking. I know that organized activities, some of them initiated by the "tour classes" we have established, are still held there.
I realized that the story of Uri Maimon should be told, then came up with the idea of placing a monument at that location. The Municipality of Haifa classified the monument as a "statue" due to its magnificence.
Thanks to the Municipality of Haifa for its cooperation. Endless blessings to you, classmate Zeevik Drori (colonel (ret.), full professor in current spiritual pursuits) who walked hand in hand with me all the way to carry out the idea of the monument. I was also happy with Liat Molcho ("Tarbut", Haifa) who enthusiastically took part in both design and production.
The statue stands in all its glory at the entrance to "Horshat Habanim". Everyone is welcome to enter the area – travel and visit, organize activities, find a good place to sit in, and stay there as long as desired.
Uri Maimon - The text on the memorial Statue
Uri Maimon and other friends of the scout movement grew up and were
educated on the hill of Rushmiya (Arabic: springhead). On this hill, they felt
the love of the Land of Israel, learnt its landscape by traveling its length and
breadth. Uri, who served in the Paratroopers, returned from the USA with the
outbreak of the Yom Kippur War in October 1973. Uri was in the first force to
cross the Suez Canal to the other side and take positions on one of the
Ramps (artificial hills built by the Egyptians to attack IDF soldiers) with his
platoon members. When an Egyptian commando battalion attacked, Uri was
the first to take position and fire his weapon, stopping the Egyptian
commando attack. In that battle, Uri was wounded and killed.
In memory of Uri Maimon and his friends, Cruiser Clubs ("Hugei Siyur"), which
exist to this date, were established in his name.
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Cruiser Clubs continue to absorb the
values and love of the Land of Israel. The Clubs are associated with the
Israeli Society for the Protection of Nature and the National Fund for Israel
(KKL).
The statue was built in cooperation with the bereaved families of Romema
Neighborhood, Dvora Maimon, the Cruiser Clubs, and Uri Maimon's friends from
"Garin Dagan".
The text on the memorial Statue
The front of the monument with the view of the grove
The text (which is on the other side of the monument) with the background of the neighborhood
I embrace with all my soul the monument that is also called a statue
