Bekeshet, Gabriel

Son of Michael and Tatiana. Born on March 14, 1932 in the city of Tartu (Dorpat), Estonia, his parents immigrated to Israel and his family settled in Tel Mond, where he went to kindergarten and studied at the school and took great love for the environment. As a child he used to accompany his father, the veterinarian, when he went to work, and he knew the life of the beasts of the house, and with his mother and sister he established a vegetable garden and a house next to their home. To the “HaNoar HaOved” movement, and during the War of Independence served as a liaison in defense of the place, finishing his studies at the Hebrew Gymnasia Herzliya, but during the days of freedom he worked as a laborer He worked as a tractor operator, construction worker and driver, and after his studies he was drafted into the IDF (July 1950) and served as a guide. After completing an officers’ course he served as a lieutenant in a combat unit. During that period he married his girlfriend from childhood. In 1952 he was accepted as a student at the Hebrew University’s Faculty of Agriculture and during his studies in Rehovot he lived in Naan with his wife and his little daughter (his wife was a teacher). He specialized in gardening, plant protection and soil science, and worked in the Department of Soil Conservation and specialized in citrus growing. He began his final work, but before his dream came true, he went to the battle of Dweima and was wounded in it. Eleven days later, on the 17th of Tishrei, 5719 (21.9.1956), he died of his wounds. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Netanya. His final thesis, which he did not finish, was published in “The Field” (Book 10, July-August 1957). His memory was included in the booklet “In Memory of Them,” dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Dweima battle, which was carried out by his comrades-in-training.