Cohen, Shalom

Son of Rahamim and Tzadikah. He was born on the 16th of Adar 5709 (March 16, 1949) in Mosul, Iraq, and was about one year old when he immigrated with his family to Israel. For a short time, the family lived in an immigrant camp (Sha’ar Ha’Aliyah) and then moved to an immigrants’ camp in Pardes Hannah and from there to Kfar Hasidim. He completed his studies in first grade in the transit camp, and in order to study in the second grade in the village, he would walk three kilometers every day on foot, because of the family’s difficult financial situation. But the boy Shalom did not complain and was not bitter because he had no toys or new clothes like the rest of the children. At the end of 1957, the family moved to Kiryat Ata, where he attended third and sixth grades at the Gordon Elementary School. Shalom completed his studies at Pinsker Elementary School and continued at a vocational school in Kiryat Haim, but due to the financial situation of the family he was forced to stop his studies at the vocational school in the first year. And indeed, on the first salary he received, he bought a gas stove for his parents’ house. Even after paying for them within a few months he continued to support the parents and even pocket money left him. But the difficult economic situation did not affect the boy, who was always cheerful and could make many hearts Simcha, especially the Lev of the family. He had various hobbies, such as collecting stamps and coins, and he also liked to be photographed and traveled a lot. By nature he would love to help anyone. Shalom was recruited in November 1966 and assigned to a combat unit in the Armored Corps. During the days of alert before the Six-Day War, his family was worried about him. They would write to him every day, but instead of being encouraged by the family, he would encourage them and his letters were full of hope and optimism. He was devoted and loyal to his parents and loved them with all his soul. Shalom would also write poems; Perhaps the songs were not “literary” and perhaps he dealt with the machine gun more faithfully than he used to draw a pen. But even in his few and imperfect poems there was a lively gaiety and a sensitive and romantic soul emerged from them. In the Six Day War, he fought in Sinai in the Rafah area – El Arish and reached the Suez Canal. When he came home for a vacation, the house would be full of joy and he would bequeathed to the whole household. When he was about to return to the base he would get up early in order to arrive on time. He would tell his mother, who coaxed him to sleep, “I have to go back so that others can go on vacation. On the 15th of Sivan 5769 (June 15, 1969), before completing his mandatory service, he fell in battle near Ismailia during a tour. After completing his duties, he volunteered to go on another tour in which he fell. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Haifa. Afterward, the commander of his platoon wrote: “The name of Shalom conveys to me the image of an outstanding soldier who performed his duties flawlessly and exemplary, was an example of his friends and loyal to his superiors, and sometimes wondered why he did not wish to advance to the military ranks. I have had the wonderful virtues of a modest boy who does not pursue power and prefers to stay with his old friends rather than leave them and climb on in. He was spiritually motivated by sacrifice and leadership ability that inspired his ability to his friends. He was the first soldier to receive the rank of corporal in his department. ” The light of memory a memory book that bears his name; a Torah scroll in his name inserted in the synagogue “Beit El” Kiryat Ata residence.