Ben-Ami, Rafael (Pola)

Rafael (Pola), son of Gita and Reuven-Gad son of-Ami, was born in 1914 in Vilna, Poland, to a family of Zionist workers. He acquired the knowledge of the Hebrew language. Raphael joined the “Gordonia” organization, became prominent in its activity and went on to prepare for his immigration to Israel. In 1934 he came to Israel and joined the Degania Bet group. In the farm he worked as a mechanic, driver and tractor operator. After the outbreak of the Second World War, he joined the British Army, and with the Second Battalion of the Baps, he crossed the Libyan desert, joined the Jewish Brigade, and reached the Netherlands, where he dealt with Jewish refugees and was appointed a counselor in the training camps in the Netherlands. His parents and all his family were murdered by the Nazis. Four years later he returned to his farm. During the War of Independence, Rafael participated in battles against the Syrian army that invaded the Jordan Valley and fell in the battle for Daganiyot, on the 11th of Iyar 5708 (May 20, 1948). Rafael was brought to rest in the cemetery in Degania Bet. He left behind a wife, a son and a daughter.