Jacob Samuel Rayman was born on December 10, 1953 in Seattle, WA to Ruth and Moshe.He studied at the Mercer Public School and the Jewish (Conservative) Heder in Seattle. In 1967 the family made aliya and settled in Jerusalem.
Jacob graduated from Boyar High School with his Bagrut in Hebrew and being active in HaShomer Hatzair along the way.
He was drafted into the IDF in October 1971 as a Nachal paratrooper and became a battle medic, which strengthened his desire to become a physician like his father. Despite his American appearance (and being called 'Jacob' rather than 'Yaacov'), his friends soon learned that he was one of the chevre and often the leader in pranks. Besides his steady girl, Simchona, his passions included biology and chocolate.
On October 6, 1973 five soldiers were sent to an unmanned observation post at Tel Saki in the southern Golan. Several hours later Syria launched a massive surprise attack - the beginning of the Yom Kippur War. Three armored personnel carriers were sent to rescue the beleaguered defenders; in one of them was Jacob. On October 7, 1973 he was killed in the rescue attempt. He was buried on Har Herzl in Jerusalem.
