Fallen Soldier’s Brother Follows His Footsteps and Joins the IDF:

It was a Friday evening at the ‘Dolphinarium’ nightclub in Tel Aviv, when a suicide bomber approached the club’s entrance and detonated powerful explosives. On that day, June 1, 2001, 17 boys and girls died on the spot and over one hundred people were injured. Another four died later on in the hospital from wounds caused by the strong explosion. 

Among those who died was Diaz Nurmanov, an IDF soldier who had finished his  hebrew course at the Michve Alon base the day before the terror attack.

Diaz had been alone in Israel, with his entire family still in Uzbekistan. At the time of his death, there was no one to inform. Within three days, Diaz’s entire family was brought from Uzbekistan to Israel to say a final goodbye to their son.

Diaz's elder brother Semyon came with his family to Israel. At that time, Semyon had already served in the Russian army for nine years, and he had already managed to build an impressive military career. However, the sudden death of his younger brother changed his life. At the age of 26, Semyon Nurmanov joined the Israel Defense Forces and was sent to the same base as his brother, where new immigrants undergo basic training.

Inside of this base is a memorial plaque dedicated to Diaz, so everyday when the soldiers would stand in formation, Semyon would place this plaque behind him, reminding him why he was there.

Semyon knew how much his service in the army would have meant to Diaz, so he decided to do everything he could to give back to his new homeland. Therefore, after completing the basic training course, Semyon started the commanders course, graduated, and became a commander at the same base.

Semyon looks at his brother's picture in their family album

After Semyon finished his military service, he remained in Israel and started a family. Today, Semyon has a daughter and a son who proudly serves in the Israel Defense Forces defending his country.

As Semyon says, “Today’s younger generation has to know that there were chapters in our life like these, but we will continue to live, and it is in our power to do everything for our family and for their future”