Yoav, son of Gohar and Zion, was born in 1948 in Halabja, Iraq, and immigrated with his family in 1950. He was named after his brother, who went to Palestine in 1948 to participate in the War of Independence, and was killed on his way to Israel. Yoav studied at the Bar-Ilan elementary school in his hometown of Kfar Saba. Afterward he studied at the agricultural school in Mikveh Israel. After deciding that his future will be in electronics, he studied at the Mossinzon School in Magdiel and at the IAF Technical School. Yoav grew up and was educated in the spirit of Jewish tradition and remained faithful to Jewish customs throughout his life. He was known for his strong love for the people and for the state, and he recognized the importance of the ideas of the Zionist movement. He despised people who left the country and refused to leave, even for a short period, to travel abroad. Yoav the boy was naughty, the first to prank, but he always knew how to keep the limits of good taste. He had a hilarious, cheerful and life-loving sense of humor. He always knew how to cheer up his friends and create a good atmosphere around him. He was modest and pleasant, and loving-man. He acquired many friends because of his charm and personality, which radiates kindness and love. He quickly became popular with everyone around him, and was accepted in every social circle, at school, in military service, or in the workplace. He had a willpower and wanted to succeed in the way he chose. He always endeavored to enrich his knowledge in the fields of mathematics and electronics, and he would solve mathematical problems even during leisure, for the pleasure of it. However, he did not settle for only these areas. His friends remember him as having knowledge and understanding of the literature, the history of the Jewish people and of the State of Israel, and of politics and economics. Lack of formal education did not prevent his progress. Because of his great energy and strong will, he created a strong position for himself. Yoav was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in early October 1966. He was trained as a communications technician and was sent to serve in a tank battalion in the 7th Armored Brigade, during which he participated in the battles of the Six Day War and was a candidate for a commendation. In the same battle, one of the company’s tanks was hit and the cargo was wounded, and Yoav jumped into the tank and filled the position of the casualty, although he was not properly trained, and the tank commander was injured again and he was taken to the collection station. He was in Sinai during the difficult period of the War of Attrition, and he took part in numerous operations During this period of tension, the number of casualties was high, and the number of vacations was very small, Yoav encouraged his friends, gave a good atmosphere and did not lose his sense of humor and cheerfulness. In early October 1969, Yoav was discharged from regular service and was assigned to the Armored Corps as a communications technician, and after his discharge began to work at the Nuclear Research Center in the Negev. He established his home in Be’er Sheva and lived there with his wife and daughter. They began their journey with nothing but slowly, together, they managed to buy themselves an apartment and build a warm home for the family. Yoav contented himself with little and found his happiness in the bosom of his family. On his own, Yoav managed to complete the exams and passed the matriculation exams. He enrolled in the Technion and prepared to take the entrance exams, but he could not fulfill his dream of studying for academic studies. During the Yom Kippur War, his unit participated in the battles of containment and infiltration against the Egyptians in the Sinai. On October 18, 1973, Yoav was injured in the shelling of our soldiers in the area where our forces crossed the Suez Canal. He was brought to restTo the water in the Kfar Saba cemetery. He left behind a wife – Rachel, daughter – Yifat, parents, two sisters and a brother. After his fall, he was promoted to sergeant. In a letter of condolence to the family, the unit commander wrote: “Your son, Corporal Yoav, served in the Armored Corps and fulfilled his duties with great dedication and excellence. Grandfather, who fell during the Yom Kippur War, and in a booklet published by his colleagues at the Nuclear Research Center.
