Bolka, Meir-Yechiel

Son of Rivka and Moshe Aharon, was born in Ostrovce, Poland, in Nissan, March 22, 1928. In 1935 he immigrated to Israel with his parents and learnt at the “Etz Chaim” Yeshiva in Jerusalem. At age 15 he went to work, specialized in mechanics for knitting work and was a member of the “Brit Hachashmonaim” youth movement, which also belonged to the Haganah. On 12 May, the Arab Legion and irregular forces carried out a heavy attack on the Gush, and managed to divide it in two. The day before the declaration of the establishment of the State, on May 13, 1948, during the heavy attack, the Legionnaires broke into Kfar Etzion and were followed by masses of Arabs. With the fall of the Gush, the 4th of Iyar, May 13, 1948, Meir-Yechiel fell with all the fallen on the defense of the Gush. On the 25th of Cheshvan 5710 November 17, 1949 he was laid to rest in the military cemetery at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.