Frank, Israel (Srulik)
Son of Esther and Chaim, was born on September 16, 1921 in the city of Artiz in Bessarabia (which belonged to Romania at the time). Was known as a playful and cheerful boy, and even when he grew up, he excelled in humor until he was called “clown” by his friends. He hid his suffering from the others, refrained from using the others, and failed to stand by his own trials. In Hebrew elementary and high school he loved the exact studies. For three years he studied construction engineering at the Technion in Kishinev, but did not finish his studies because of the outbreak of World War II. In 1942 he went with his family to central Russia and to Tashkent. He often risked defending the weak and did not shy away from getting into difficult situations in order to provide for the family’s living needs. Israel served in the Russian army and participated in many battles. On 27 August 1946, he immigrated to Israel and immediately joined the ranks of the Haganah. When the War of Independence began, the enlistment officer suggested that he volunteer as a medic. “This job will be reserved for girls,” he said, and went to the sappers’ course. Israel served in the “Alexandroni” Brigade, successfully participated in many explosive and mining operations in the “Triangle” area. When he reached the Passover holiday in 1948, he wanted to go to his parents for the holiday, and he did not receive permission to do so, but he managed to hide, and the officer and his men returned without him, but out of respect for the officer, May 13, 1948, participated in the conquest of Arab Kfar Saba. When an Iraqi counter-attack came, they made their way. He could retreat with the others, but on the way he found a wounded friend and stayed to get him out of the battlefield and bring him to safety, and so both of them were lost. A monument in his memory was erected in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. This fallen hero is a “maklan” – a hero whose burial place is unknown.
