Chassid, Tzvi (Hashke)

The eldest son of Zelda and Moshe-Yehuda, was born in 1921 in the city of Kovel, Poland to a family of Hasidim. He graduated from Tarbut School, was a member of Hashomer Hadati and was trained in the “Ovadia” group in the city of Slavkov. In his parents’ home, he was educated from his childhood in a national-religious spirit, from which he inherited his longing for the Land of Israel. He was a musical child and participated in the choir of the synagogue. When the Second World War broke out and the area was conquered by the Soviets, the rich family’s military headquarters were broken and Zvi, who was then a young boy, began helping his father with trade beyond the borders. When his desire to immigrate to Israel increased, his father passed through a dark night across the Russian border. Zvi arrived in Vilna and joined the “Baderech” group of Hashomer Hadati. In Adar 1941 he immigrated to Israel via Russia and Turkey and joined the Avraham group in Kfar Pines where he became involved in work and social life, was sent to various work battalions, completed courses for squad commanders and instructors in the Karkur area. In March 1945, he enlisted in the Palmach and was among the immigrants to Biriya and those responsible for its security. During the days of the Biriya regime, he managed to evade the British who were about to arrest him and went underground under the name of Zvi Hankin. He changed his appearance and clothes and was sent on behalf of the Haganah to Netanya to command the religious youth battalion in the Upper Galilee and was also responsible for the training of the students of Bnei Akiva, Kfar Haroeh, Midreshet Noam, etc. He loved the landscape of the country and its antiquities, Who were always reminded of a legacy of heroism from ancient times: At the outbreak of the War of Independence he served in the Alexandroni Brigade and was appointed a guide in Netanya, and in his energetic effort he set up a training camp for the city’s residents. Headed his squad to attack the Arab village of Tira near Kfar Hess. As they approached the village, the fighters were surprised by an enemy ambush that cost them their strength. Among the casualties was Zvi, who commanded the withdrawal. With the last of his strength, his friends say, when he was seriously wounded in the stomach and bleeding, he held a hand grenade. Carefully, he handed the grenade back to the comrades and ordered him to retreat: “My life is worthless again, save yourselves and I will protect you” – he told his friends. Thanks to his courage, many of his men were saved. He was laid to rest at the cemetery in Tel Mond. After he fell, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant