Mother Finds Long-Lost Grave of Infant Son Born During Six-Day War After 60 Years

Nearly 60 years after the death of her infant son, Tamara Aplalo finally discovered his grave in Sderot, Israel. Born during the Six-Day War in 1967, her son Avraham passed away at just four months old due to a congenital heart defect that went unnoticed during the chaos of wartime evacuations. Tamara’s mother, seeking to protect her from grief, arranged the burial but never disclosed the grave’s location, leaving Tamara unaware of where her son was laid to rest.

Tamara and her husband Armond had married in 1966 and welcomed Avraham amid the conflict. After a brief celebration including a brit milah and pidyon haben, the family was rushed to a municipal shelter. Only later did a doctor detect the heart defect, but Avraham died shortly after. Despite having three more children and enduring further family tragedies, Tamara never stopped wondering where Avraham was buried.

The mystery was unexpectedly solved through Tamara’s work with the "Gvanim" association in Sderot, which collaborates with the city on the "Garden of Sons and Daughters" project. This initiative honors deceased residents without descendants to memorialize them. With the help of project leader Nirit Rimon and a volunteer, Tamara searched the Sderot cemetery and found Avraham’s grave near his father’s. The discovery brought both pain and closure, allowing Tamara to finally mourn properly and plan to restore the gravestone.

Nirit Rimon emphasized the project’s mission to ensure no one is forgotten, highlighting Tamara’s story as a poignant example of the personal impact of their work. Sderot’s mayor, Alon Davidi, praised the initiative as a symbol of the city’s mutual responsibility and commitment to preserving memories. The municipality and Gvanim encourage other families seeking information or wishing to participate in the memorial project to contact them.