The Electrician of Kindness: How One Man Transforms a City With Simple Acts of Giving

It happened on an ordinary clear day in 1988. Yoram Maman was just one small step away from completing the IDF squad commanders’ course. He was one of nine children, born and raised in Kiryat Shmona. Like all young men his age, Yoram had big dreams — many of which were abruptly cut short when he received that phone call.

One of the officers called him into his office and, with a heavy expression, informed him that a terrible tragedy had occurred.
“It was my father,” Yoram recounts. “He’d been in an accident with the Vespa motorcycle he’d ridden for years — and he didn’t survive.”

His father, of blessed memory, had served for many years as a fire officer at the Kiryat Shmona fire station. One of his greatest wishes in life was that one of his sons would follow in his footsteps. His brother David eventually fulfilled that dream. Yoram, on the other hand, chose to pursue electrical engineering immediately after completing his military service.

Maman takes a deep breath as he continues: “My father was the pillar of our home — someone with an extraordinary sense of kindness and love for others. He was always looking to give, always searching for ways to help anyone in need.”

Losing him was a painful and nearly impossible challenge for the nine siblings, none of whom had the chance to have their father accompany them down the aisle at their wedding.

“Day-to-day life was incredibly difficult,” he says, “but at least we try to live by the values he and my mother instilled in us.”

Yoram Maman in his office

A Life of Quiet Kindness

Yoram Maman, a certified electrical engineer, is not the type to boast about his deeds or community work. But to get a sense of who he is, here’s what his typical weekday looks like:

Early every morning, he leaves for his job as an electrician for a company servicing local kibbutzim. And around 5:00 PM, his second shift begins — the shift of kindness, as one might call it.

In his notebook, Maman keeps a list of people who need electrical repairs or installations but cannot afford the cost. He helps every single one of them, without exception — completely free of charge.

Residents of the city describe him with admiration: “When my brother moved apartments, Yoram came and fixed everything — perfectly. He even installed two Shabbat timers. But when it came to payment, he practically fought to avoid taking a single shekel. There aren’t many people like him — he’s truly a man of kindness.”

Another resident added: “Where do you find people like this today? Someone whose only wish is to make someone else happy? Someone who smiles knowing he saved another person 400 shekels? If only there were more people like him in Israel.”

Asked why he does it, Yoram has only one answer: ​“This is my joy — knowing I managed to make others happy through my profession. Even when I’m overloaded, I try to get to every home that needs me. And if I can’t, I have a team of loyal colleagues who step in. What matters most is knowing people received the help they needed — otherwise I can’t sleep at night.”

He smiles. “I can’t really explain it. It’s just something inside me.”

Serving the Public — Day and Night

What many people don’t know is that Maman also serves as a member of the Kiryat Shmona city council. He is part of a committee that assists needy families in securing property tax reductions.

“There are many elderly people and struggling families who have no idea what they’re entitled to or how to apply. I help fill out forms, accompany them to city hall if needed, submit special requests — whatever it takes. This work is essential. So many people need someone to advocate for them, and I serve as their voice.”

How does he juggle so many responsibilities? “It’s not easy,” he admits. “But thank God, there is Someone above managing everything and giving me the strength. As they say, ‘In the way a person wants to go — he is led.’”