Crystal, Menachem

Was born on April 4, 1948 in Tel Aviv, attended the Tachkemoni elementary school in the city, and graduated from Ironi Bet High School in the framework of evening studies Before joining the army, Menachem worked for several years as a clerk at Herut and helped his sick mother. Menahem was drafted into the IDF in February 1967 and was deployed to the Armored Corps, and his commander said: “I met Menachem during his regular service. I met him for the first time when he was in tank commanders’ course and later during an officer training course. In his battalion, Menachem served as a liaison officer. He was charged with handling the personal problems of the soldiers and maintaining contact with them, even when they were not active reserve duty. Menahem was the only one who knew every soldier by name without going through the lists. He treated every soldier first and foremost as a man. We learned that Menahem had a sensitive and understanding soul. He always found the way to teach his life right and always found a sympathetic ear and a personal attitude. After completing his service, Menahem volunteered to serve in the regular army and continued to fulfill his position with honors. After his discharge from the IDF, I asked him to fill a one-third position in the battalion and he accepted my request, and every year Menachem was called for periods of reserve service in the battalion, so we spent our time together in the Golan Heights, in the Syrian enclave, in operational employment and training. “It was only natural for Menahem to take care of the casualties and casualties of the battalion during the Yom Kippur War, and together we built the battalion after the war. At the end of 1972 Menahem married Sylvia and his two daughters, Anat and Chen, were born. He was a devoted and loving and wonderful husband. On November 5, 1977, Menachem fell during his service. He was laid to rest in the cemetery in Kiryat Tivon.