Bookshtelsky, Yaacov

Son of Yehudit and Tzadok was born on May 18, 1934 in Vilna, Poland. During World War II, he and his parents were deported to northern Russia. Despite his young age, he became began working in order to make things easier for his family. When the family returned to Poland in 1946, Yankele joined the “Dror” kibbutz and devoted himself passionately to the study of the Hebrew language. Yaacov set out on an escape route to Palestine and passed through Germany and Italy, and arrived in Cyprus in the detention camp. In August 1947 Yaacov was released and immigrated to Israel. He was sent to Kibbutz Ayelet Hashachar for training and completion of his education. When he arrived at the kibbutz he wrote to his father: “This is my permanent address, from which I will not part forever.” And he did not. In the Syrian attack on the Upper Galilee, the 14-year-old boy demanded that he participate in the defense of the place. Yaakov served as a liaison between the positions and on the 3rd of Sivan 5708 (June 10, 1948), when the field phone was disconnected by a strong bomb, he was ordered to take an order to the front position and on the way, he was killed. Yaacov was laid to rest in the cemetery at Kibbutz Ayelet Hashachar. His father and brothers came to Israel after he fell.