Azulai, Yaakov

Yaakov, son of Farah and Joseph, was born in 1948 in Ozen, Morocco, and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1955. His family settled in Neveh Oved, Poriya, and he attended the religious elementary school “Poriya”. Afterward, he studied at the agricultural high school at the Kfar Hasidim religious youth village. Jacob grew up and was educated in the spirit of Jewish tradition and respected the values ​​of the Jewish religion he absorbed in his home. He was a good-hearted, pleasant and friendly young man who had acquired many friends for his sincerity, direct and cordial attitude and good atmosphere. As a student he was active in the social life of the school and participated in extensive cultural activities. He was an apprentice and instructor in the youth movement – the worker and the learner, and was trained in the course of the Gadna commanders, as well as in sports and excelled in soccer and light athletics, and his love and willingness to help others. Yaakov was drafted into the IDF in mid-November 1968 and volunteered for the Paratroopers Brigade. Guided by the love of the homeland, which was inherent in him, he took pride in wearing the red beret and proud of belonging to an elite unit in the IDF. After completing basic training he successfully completed a parachuting course and was awarded a paratrooper’s wings. In early August 1971, he was discharged from regular service and assigned to a paratroop unit. After the liberation, he decided to dedicate his time to rehabilitating young offenders and began working as an instructor in an institution for the education and rehabilitation of young offenders – “addicted.” Yakov emerged as a guide who combined leadership skills, organization and initiative, with a warm and humane approach to his young students. He had gone to great lengths to help the boys who had deteriorated into the criminal world, to get out of it and return to society of their peers. He was an energetic guide, full of new and original ideas for educational activity and methods. He liked his fellow workers and his young apprentices, who trusted him and trusted him with his ability and sincere desire to help them get better. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, his battalion was on the Golan Heights and participated in the battle against the Syrians. The battalion was then transferred to Sinai and participated in the battles in the Sinai and crossing the Suez Canal. On the 22nd of Tishrei 5734 (18.10.1973), in a battle that took place in the area of ​​Su-Sauer west of the Suez Canal, Yaakov was hit by the shelling and killed. He was laid to rest at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem. Survived by his parents, three brothers, and two sisters. After his fall, he was promoted to First Sergeant.