Eliov, Yiftach
Son of Gideon and Aviva. He was born on October 22, 1955 in Kiryat Tivon. As a child, Yiftach suffered from various health problems, and he often passed out and lost consciousness after every injury, even the easiest. However, he had a strong character and stubbornness, and knew how to stand up for himself. His physical weakness did not deter him from dealing with even bigger and stronger children if he was convinced of his righteousness. Yiftach was blessed with gold hands and thanks to his industriousness, perseverance, and strong will – he succeeded wherever he went. The theoretical studies were not his strong point. He graduated from the Narkissim Elementary School in Kiryat Tivon, and after a long period of hesitation and two years of high school, he found his place with the children of Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael. He hoped that there would be more work and more theoretical study, and that would allow him to reveal his true skills. It turned out that Yiftah’s absorption lines at Ma’agan Michael were not easy. His parents did not know at all what difficulties and pressures he had to deal with at that time, because he never spoke about it. When asked, he drew only a pink picture of his condition. But in the course of time he waned, constantly struggling with his new environment, and he became an adult, mentally and physically mature. Yiftach loved the life of the kibbutz, and when he proved that he could stand any test, he also won the esteem of his friends, whom he had previously mistrusted. As far as the conditions of the place and work allowed, Yiftach devoted time to his two main hobbies: chess and photography. In these two areas he achieved surprising achievements. During the Yom Kippur War, when many of the members of the kibbutz enlisted and fought on the fronts, Yiftah felt the heavy burden of responsibility lying on his shoulders as someone who had found a second home, and he doubled his efforts in the dairy industry. Yiftach’s decision to serve in the paratroopers was typical – he prepared to fulfill this task properly and thoroughly – by forging his physical strength and training in running, and in November 1973 he was given the uniform of the paratroopers. The commanders, felt some frustration, because he had expected much more serious difficulties and challenges, and he had made efforts with relative ease. Only after he had completed the infantry officer course with a high grade and returned to his unit as a platoon commander did he feel satisfaction and joy in his service. The crowning glory of his military service was his active participation in the Entebbe operation – for the wonderful release of the kidnapped soldiers, so far from the homeland. The members of the family were excited and proud, while he himself was modest, as usual, and even refrained from telling about his sensational experiences. He only talked a lot about his friend, who was seriously wounded in the same operation, and at every opportunity he went to visit him at the hospital. On 17 May 1977, Yiftach was wounded in a gun accident and died on the spot. He was brought to rest in the land of Ma’agan Michael. Survived by his parents and brother.
