Chen (Ohnona), Yaakov

Yaakov, son of Maryam and Joseph, was born on 9/9/1949 in Fornoti, Morocco, and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1952. He studied at the Magles Elementary School in Moshav Sharsheret and at the Merom Zion high school in Jerusalem. He studied at the Discount Bank in Kiryat Ata and soon became fond of all his friends there. Yaakov was kind, courteous and polite, gentle and pleasant. He knew humor and he liked to joke and joke, he was naturally frank, honest and conscientious, and everyone recognized him as a humble, modest and silent man who refrained from telling about himself. February 1967 and volunteered to serve in the Armored Corps. He took a course in the Patton tank course, a course for Patton tank commanders, and a course for the commanders of the Centurion tanks. For his part in the war in 1967 he was awarded the “Six Day War Medal”. In his discharge certificate, his commanders wrote: “Yaakov is a good, responsible commander, who takes care of his subordinates and is dedicated to his job.” After his discharge, Yaakov was accepted to the Law Faculty of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1971 he married his girlfriend Dina. He was loyal to his parents and respected them, a devoted husband to his wife, and a father who loved his daughter. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Yaakov and his unit were sent to the Sinai front. For many hours, the unit’s men rode through the tracks of the tanks until they reached the banks of the canal at dawn on Sunday, and immediately entered the battle. On the 12th of Tishrei 5734 (October 8, 1973), in the afternoon, his unit attacked enemy units opposite the Firdan Bridge. During the battle, a missile hit his tank and he was killed on the spot. At first he was considered missing, but his body was later identified and he was brought to eternal rest at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem. He left behind a wife and daughter, father, mother, six brothers and three sisters. After his fall, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “Yaakov was a courageous fighter and an exemplary commander, who led his men in battle with coolness and heroism, and reassured his soldiers. ” His family donated a Torah scroll to a synagogue in Jerusalem in memory of him, and his division published a pamphlet in memory of its fallen soldiers, entitled” The First Walkers ” And wrote things in his memory.