Cohen-Ze’evi (Wolfowitz), Herzl

Son of Mina and Yehuda. Was born on the 11th of Elul (September 11, 1916) in the home of his grandfather Shaul Levi, one of the founders of Tel Aviv and the first builders of Batya. Herzl was a handsome boy, playful and cheerful, kind and noble. He spent his early years in the elementary school for commerce and later studied at the Herzliya Gymnasium. In 1932 he joined the Betar youth movement, and with the outbreak of the bloody riots of 1936-1939 joined the ranks of the Irgun. However, he was active in the “transfer” transport cooperative, to which he belonged, and was one of the members of the council and the editors of the new journal HaMa’avir. In August 1940 he enlisted on behalf of the “transferor” to the British army and was attached to the company of water transporters sent to service in the Western Desert. Herzl spent eight months in besieged Tobruk and was promoted to sergeant. At the end of the siege he moved with his unit to Israel for a period of time and engaged in the training of military drivers. Then his unit returned to Tobruk. On the 13th of Kislev 5703 (23/11/1942) he was killed in the bombing of enemy planes. Herzl’s commander in besieged Tobruk. In his remarks, Aharon said: “He has always served as an example of his leadership, courage and dedication, and Sergeant Herzl Ze’evi knew how to preserve Jewish pride and honor.” Major Baker, another of his commanders, wrote to his wife: “Sergeant Ze’evi gave his life for an ideal, and he died so that the people and women of the world would be free to live their lives as they pleased.” Herzl was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Tobruk. He left a wife and daughter who was born five months after his death and was named Herszla. His name was immortalized in the book “Remembering Netzach” and his memoirs were published in the newspapers of those days. In 1961, his family received the Volunteer Award from the State of Israel, as well as the Medal of the State Warriors, marking the location of Kibbutz 3A13, the Royal Army Service Corps Rank Serjeant.