Barash, Yosef (Yoshka)
Son of Bruria and Shalom, was born on the 24th of Iyar, 5623 (24.4.1923), on the mother’s side – to Rabbi Fischel Salomon, the founder of the moshava and from the father – grandson of Chaim Balzir of Safed, the zealous fighter against the mission. He acquired a profound knowledge of the Bible and the literature of Israel, as well as the wisdom of language. When he was older he was advised to move to teaching, but Joseph stuck to the Galilee soil and wanted to remain there as a farmer. When he grew up, he was sent to work at the Givat Hashlosha school in order to be close to the literary circles in the city, but not to cut himself off from agriculture. But knowing that the parents’ farm needed his help, he hurried home. Upon his return to Yesod, he also dealt with illegal weapons, carrying a large barrel with a weapon hit in the back and forced to go to Tiberias for a cure. During the search days in Kfar Giladi he participated with members of the kibbutz in opposition to British soldiers and was wounded there. When the War of Independence broke out, he participated in the defense of Ne’ot Mordechai, transporting the babies from Naftali Heights, and taking the wounded from Malkia through the mountains for a distance of eight kilometers, and he worked in a bunker in Ramot Naftali under constant fire and on 29.5.1948, After passing the Jordan River, he fought near Mansura as an expert translator, and under a volley of bullets ran to get a machine gun, and when the enemy was repulsed he went to the aid of Sejera and Lubia and then to Mishmar Hayarden. On July 9, 1948, when the Syrians attacked the area, he took part in their repulsions, and on the 3rd of Tammuz 5707 (10.7.1948) he fought again in the first outpost attacked by him The enemy’s armored force. When the armored corps approached the outpost, people were offered to leave, but Yosef insisted that he had to fight to the end. Joseph and his soldiers fell in battle, but the Syrians, who suffered heavy casualties, did not advance further. On the 26th of Tammuz 5766 (26.6.1950) he was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Rosh Pina.
