Bessenbaum, Eliezer
Eliezer Blessenbaum, son of Zehava and Aryeh was born on 27.8.1923 in the city of Tomoshov, Poland. In 1935 he immigrated to Israel with his father and brother. During his studies he joined the Haganah. Because of financial difficulties at home, he stopped his studies, worked in the diamond industry, and when he was 17, he volunteered for the Guardians and since then has been constantly on his service for the homeland. From 1942, he served in Ashdot Yaakov in the Jordan Valley and reached the rank of sergeant. In 1945, Eliezer completed a course in the IDF, and he went on a mission abroad for a year and a half, training people for immigration and organizing training camps. With the outbreak of the War of Independence he left the Diaspora, despite the opposition of his superiors, in order to participate in the war. Eliezer rejected any suggestion to stay in the city and instead joined the ranks of the Palmach and was an appointed commander of a company composed of members of the Gahal. The Harel Brigade participated in the battles on the way to Jerusalem, and during the “Dan” operation, Eliezer already fought as a company commander. A few days before his wedding ceremony, he was sent to the Negev together with his company. On the 5th of Tevet 5709 (6.1.1949), Eliezer was injured on his head and didn’t make it. Eliezer was laid to rest in the Nahalat Yitzhak cemetery.
