Cohen, Yosef (“Joe”)

Son of Shlomo and Mazal. Born in Cairo, Egypt on August 13, 1937, Joseph studied at a French school in Cairo, but after 1951, when the family immigrated to Israel, he enrolled as a student at the Beit Hakerem High School in Jerusalem, where he graduated He completed his studies in 1955. After graduating from high school, he went with his fellow members of the Galilee Training College to Nahal. Before leaving for the army, he managed to guide youth in Tzahala, near Tel Aviv. He was recruited to the IDF in 1956 and after completing basic training he was sent to Kibbutz Yizre’el, where he found his girlfriend, Haim Givat He received his B.Sc. in 1963. He received his M.Sc. degree in 1965. He studied in the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was a research assistant in 1965. Joseph’s thoroughness in studies and professional work influenced his approach to problems And determined to continue his studies, but this did not distance him from his life He was able to digest abstract topics and did not distract him from a constant search for practical uses of the learned Torah, and when he received his master’s degree in 1965 it was clear to him that he would continue his studies, but he chose to work as an agricultural economic instructor in the Lachish Training Office. In his first meeting with the local people, Yosef found a common language with his interlocutors and discovered the qualities of an excellent guide. Although he did not have practical experience, he was able to stand up for his opinions and principles, to be meticulous about every detail, but to persuade his friends – and thus he gained the trust of the people with whom he worked. He was always able to understand the basic problem and found a simple and convincing solution. He was diligent at work, punctual and ready to help both the friend and the settler, and there he emerged as a gentleman in his relations with people. For a short period of time, it became close to the right of the economic centers in the area and the guide to the economic problems of their branches. The Six-Day War found him preparing to travel to the University of Chicago, Ill., Illinois, for his studies and scientific work toward his doctorate; He received a fellowship from the University of Chicago for his doctoral studies in economics. But then called to reserve duty – and on the second day of the fighting, on the 27th of Iyar 5727 (June 6, 1967), he fell in the Gaza police force; He was with his company organizing from the police yard when the enemy snipers opened fire. He left a wife and two daughters, the youngest of whom was less than two years old when her father fell. He was buried in the military emergency cemetery in Bari and was later transferred to eternal rest in the military cemetery in Rehovot. After they fell, a booklet appeared on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which includes his scientific work. In the book “Nizkor”, published by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Student Union, edited by Yehuda Ha-Ezrahi, several pages were devoted to his history and a short description of his last battle. In Volume 4 of “Goily Ash”, the bag of the estate of the sons who fell in Israel’s wars, was brought from his estate.