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The adolescent
The beginning of his adolescence journey was in the sports class of the Alumim middle school in Ramat Hasharon. Dan would go out every morning for training and from there he would continue to school. He loved not only his studies but the wonderful group of friends that studied with. When the summer break came he would say "It's too bad because it's fun at school". Dan loved and admired his educator, Rivka. An educator and athlete with a great soul.
Following junior high school, he went to a boarding school at Wingate and Hof Hasharon High School in Shefayim. The setting and atmosphere at the boarding school and at the school did not meet his expectations and he asked to return home and train in Ramat Hasharon.
During this time Dan went through a number of crises regarding his future, but the move to Rishonim School and the friends he found there immediately turned the bowl upside down. His educator, Janet Goren understood his needs as an international tennis player and supported him throughout.
Although he hardly visited a school because he spent most of his time traveling abroad playing tennis, the friendship he won went with him until his last day.
"He sat down next to me in a math class in Group B. Strange to think he was in a low grouping, but schooling is not what interested him in high school. Tennis was the center of his world. And I was deeply invested in a theatrical trend.
Most naturally friendships were quickly formed between us, I do not remember enough, it just seemed like he was always there.
His Friends also say that Dan joined their cohesive group and naturally fitted in.
He had such huzpa and confidence and he was the most genuine there was. Brought himself, with his mischief, laughter, and nonsense, and was saying exactly what he thought, straight to the face, without shame.
We would talk into the night, we would have long hours of phone calls before bed. There was also a time the morning after, that Dan told me when we met at school that he fell asleep with the receiver open, while I was talking and talking ..
He was a housemate with us, feeling as comfortable as possible. He would come to eat before a tennis practice, open the fridge, take out Hummus and serve him a nice dish that does not embarrass any Hummus place. Put a tablespoon of Hummus in the middle and in a circular motion wipe with a pita and hurry to go out for a workout. My mom was thrilled that Dan felt so at home. There was a story that our family remembers well, the time Dan stayed with us for Shabbat dinner. Friday night, we all sit around the table and talk, Dan told about Ori's role in the army and then my mother says: "Zvika was in the navy too" and Dan who is with us every day, asks, without getting confused: "Who is Zvika?" We all laughed, Zvika This is my father, sitting next to him.
I found the diaries I had in high school, I would make sure to write in them what I do every day - Dan is always there with me.
We would meet several times during the day. There was a regular day of the week we both would start studying late, Dan would come with the red jeep to pick me up from home to high school. We would come back to my house, watch movies, listen to music, and go out in the evening.
Traveling with the jeep in the sands, I even got to drive it myself. Until the unfortunate incident, that Dan abandoned the jeep that fell off the cliff. Next, remember the fast rides with the good music in the blue golf.
Even when Dan was far away, we felt closest. Dan would travel to games in different countries around the globe and we would write faxes to each other. The fax from me had a hallmark, I made sure to draw on it the logo of the tennis club, so that it would not be missed and they knew who it was for.
When the guys flew to Poland, Dan was a little taken aback that he could not join us because of the tennis. He sent me an exciting letter and prepared me a cast of beautiful silent songs for the journey.
We had close friendships and great love
Einat Kurtz-Bahrav May 2021
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