The Zvika Lavi Lookout

The story

The Zvika Lavi Lookout is a memorial site and observation point above the almond orchards of the Yatir region, close to the locality of Carmel in the southeast of Mount Hebron, and beside the Israel National Trail in the section west of Arad. It was established on the initiative of young people from Carmel, together with the Lavi family and with the help of the "Even HaPina" project of Adi Alosh. Its location was set within the orchards in which Zvika Lavi grew up as a child, on lands whose agricultural development was led by his father, the agronomist Moshe Levi. The lookout looks out over the largest almond orchard in Israel. Sergeant-major in the reserves Zvika Lavi was born and grew up in the moshav of Carmel, served in the IDF as a fighter in Sayeret Matkal and afterwards in the Maglan unit, and in the reserves in the Fire Arrows Formation. He was a social worker by training and worked in a hostel for people coping with dual diagnosis; he was the husband of Talia and father of Shaked, Amitai and Aviv, and lived in Eli. In the Swords of Iron War he served as a platoon sergeant in the fighting in Gaza, was severely wounded and died three weeks later, on the fifth candle of Hanukkah 5784. The lookout is open throughout the year and serves as a stopping point on agricultural and educational tours, among them the almond festival that is held every winter.

• Commemoration
• War
• Arad