Cohen, Matityahu (Matti)

Son of Miriam and Yosef, was born on the 3rd of Av, February 24, 1925. At age five, his parents immigrated to Israel and settled in Jerusalem. At the outbreak of the War of Independence, during the siege of Jerusalem, he volunteered to use his car for the supply service. He enlisted his brother David and together they broke the enemy chain several times and managed to provide food and water to the besieged residents of Jerusalem. At the beginning of the first truce, on June 19, 1948, Matityahu traveled in a convoy to Tel Aviv to bring food. When the caravan was stopped at Shaar Hagai to be examined by UN personnel, he got out of the car and was wounded by a mine. His leg was shattered and the next day, on the 13th of Sivan 5708 (June 20, 1948), he died of his wounds. Matityahu left behind a wife and a baby. His brother fell ill from grief and died a year later.