Aharoni, Issy (Issachar)

Son of Sarah and Haviv, he was born on September 23, 1951, in Tel Aviv. Issachar’s childhood years were spent in the transit camp which sits on the Jaffa-Jerusalem road. He completed his elementary school studies at the Brenner school in the transit camp. During Issy’s elementary school, his family moved to a more spacious home in Kiryat Shalom, near the transit camp. He started high school at the Ort Shapira vocational high school. On February 3, 1970, Issy was drafted into the IDF and served as a truck driver, and he was known as someone who was always willing to help and replace them in their shift. “When we served in the Sharm el-Sheikh area last year, Aharoni was the driver of the water truck, and he arrived on time for all the most remote places, and he had an unusual ability to get in.” The escorts who went out with him to the water distribution channel knew that if necessary, Aharoni would make a “blanket” in the middle of the desert and would not remain in the area. Issy was a sensitive man and a warm father to his children. He was willing to spend his free time with his children. In October 1982, Issi was called to reserve duty in Lebanon and was assigned to military service in the city of Tzur. On the 25th of Kislev 5743 (11.11.1982), Issy was buried under the rubble of the a house that collapsed due to a gas explosion, together with other soldiers. His family and friends published a pamphlet in his memory expressing their love and admiration for him. His cousin, Moti, writes about him: “We had a character which we have always admired, we had a symbol in all that we did – the image of Issy, our cousin. When we wanted to say in the family: “Be honest!” We always added “like Issy”, when we wanted advice and help, we always turned to Issy, when we were proud of Uncle Hero we always said: “Issy!” When we were proud pf the family, we always talked about Issy, and when we talked about the power of the will, we said, “Look at Issy!” Now we are left without the character only with memories.”