Barzilai, Binyamin (Hadad)

Son of Brocha and Yecheya. He was born in the city of Sana’a, Yemen, and was sixteen years old when he arrived in Palestine as a “companion” of his sister and her children. In his youth he devoted most of his efforts to helping new immigrants from Yemen and did everything possible to ease the hardships of adjustment. Binyamin joined the ranks of the Irgun Zvai Leumi (National Military Organization) was very active, and even held a weapons cache in his house. He worked in various jobs, such as frames and carpentry, and later opened a laundry with a friend. He had a pleasant voice and loved to sing. On the 4th Sivan, June 11, 1948, the Etzel forces tried to break through the line of defense of the Arab Legion at the entrance to the Arab city of Ramle. The force was discovered by the enemy and Binyamin was among the casualties in the battle. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. Binyamin was twenty-four years old when he fell. He left a mother, brothers and sisters. A memorial to the fighters of the Irgun who fell in the battles of Ramla in the War of Independence is located on the northern outskirts of the city, where Binyamin’s name is also commemorated.