Injured Officer Pens Nature Book, Continues Exploration from Wheelchair
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
IDF officer Ronen Kalimi, severely injured in Lebanon, has published a book surveying the Golan Heights' canyons, "Nahalei Ramat HaGolan." Despite being confined to a wheelchair after the November 14, 2024, battle where Lieutenant Evri Dickstein was killed, Kalimi continues his passion for nature exploration. The book, co-authored with Menachem Marcus and Lior Anmar, reflects his deep knowledge of the terrain and his personal journey. Kalimi also maintains connections with the families of soldiers lost under his command.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Officer Ronen Kalimi published a Golan Heights canyon survey book despite severe injuries sustained in Lebanon.
- Kalimi was critically wounded and lost his ability to walk during a November 14, 2024, battle in Tir Harfa, Lebanon.
- Lieutenant Evri Dickstein was killed in the same November 14th incident where Kalimi was injured.
- The book, "Nahalei Ramat HaGolan," details 41 streams and includes Kalimi's personal reflections on his limitations.
- Kalimi collaborated with geomorphologist Menachem Marcus and guide Lior Anmar to complete the book.
- He continues to explore nature, adapting his activities to his wheelchair-bound condition.
Ronen Kalimi, an officer in the Golani Brigade, has authored a comprehensive landscape survey of the Golan Heights' basalt canyons, "Nahalei Ramat HaGolan - A Comprehensive Landscape Survey of Basalt Canyons." The book, which details 41 streams, includes a personal epilogue where Kalimi reflects on his experiences and future limitations. He states, "This is likely my second and last book reviewing landscapes in Israel. I will no longer be able to hike in the basalt canyons or desert streams."
Kalimi sustained severe, life-altering injuries on November 14, 2024, during the battle for the Lebanese village of Tir Harfa. While leading his soldiers, his unit encountered Hezbollah operatives, resulting in a firefight where Lieutenant Evri Dickstein was killed and Kalimi was critically wounded. The injuries left him unable to walk, forcing him into a wheelchair. Despite the personal tragedy, Kalimi chose to focus his book on landscape surveys, similar to his pre-war book on the Judean Desert canyons.
Kalimi's passion for exploring nature began in his youth, leading him to become an accomplished canyoner and climber. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting nature's power, recounting a near-fatal incident in the Judean Desert where a rockfall occurred during a descent. His expertise as a field surveyor, he believes, significantly aided his command capabilities in the IDF.
During his rehabilitation, Kalimi collaborated with geomorphologist Menachem Marcus and guide Lior Anmar to complete the Golan Heights book. Marcus, a seasoned geographer and author, provided editorial support and contributed articles, while Anmar facilitated meetings and fieldwork. Kalimi's dedication to his craft is evident in his detailed descriptions and systematic approach, despite his physical challenges.
The book features stunning photographs of Kalimi engaged in his former activities, though they are secondary to the canyon descriptions. It also includes contributions from other researchers on flora, fauna, history, and nature preservation. Kalimi, who resides in Modi'in, is also a student of economics and business administration and is in a relationship with Ya'el Tal. He maintains close ties with the families of fallen soldiers under his command, including Dickstein and Tomer Keren, who was killed by an anti-tank missile in September 2024.
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