Chalaf, Moshe-Aaron

Son of Roda and Yehoshua. Born in 1917 in Płońsk, Poland, to a Zionist family in which he received national education and a tendency toward public activity. His father was a Hebrew teacher and Moshe Aharon was active in the Hechalutz movement and also dealt with Hebrew education in pioneer youth groups in Polish towns. In 1936 he volunteered for the British army and was assigned to the transport corps where he served as a driving instructor in Egypt and Libya. In January 1941, the military vehicle, which was traveling with three other soldiers, ran over a mine. Two of the passengers were killed on the spot and Moshe Aharon, who suffered a severe concussion, was rushed to the Bikur Cholim hospital in Jerusalem. For eight months he fought for his life and refused to be released from the army in the belief that he would recover and be able to return to service. On 12 Elul, September 4, 1941, he died of his wounds and was buried in the cemetery on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and left a wife, parents and sister. His death was published in the Davar newspaper and in the book of Plonsk.