Birka, Yitzhak

Yitzhak, son of Rina and Moshe, was born in 1947 in Baghdad, Iraq, and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1951. He studied at the “Shiva” elementary school in the region and later continued his studies at the Amal vocational school in Holon, He was friendly and pleasant, honest and conscientious, cheerful and kindhearted, mischievous and fond of pranks, and was drafted into the IDF in mid-November in 1964 and assigned to the Armored Corps . He was a good and responsible soldier, and served as an example to his friends in his good temper and patience, and during the Six-Day War he was lightly wounded while driving in the armored half-track of one of the armored corps. He had excelled during the war in his role as a driver. For his participation in the war he was awarded the “Six Day War”. He tried not to worry about his family and often wrote letters home and during his short vacations he used to spend time at home and help his parents. In his release certificate, before his discharge from the army, his commander wrote: “Yitzhak is a disciplined and exemplary soldier.” Isaac was a loyal son of his parents, a dedicated husband and a loving father. He loved helping others and taking care of his family. On the 7th of Tishrei 5740 (October 7, 1973), in the “caress” cavern on the shore of the small bitter lake, Yitzhak was hit and killed. At first he was considered missing. His body was later identified and he was brought to eternal rest in the Kiryat Shaul cemetery. Survived by a wife, daughter, father and mother, three brothers and five sisters. His son, who was born after his fall, bears his name – Isaac.