Godny, Yonah (Yonchik)

Son of Tovah and Max, Yonah was born on the 22nd of Nissan, April 24, 1927 in Haifa. He studied at the Geula School and later completed a two-year course for mechanical engraving at the Technion’s vocational school in Haifa. At the age of sixteen, he joined the Palmach in Haifa, where he received training in all areas of the country. He participated in many daring activities, including the release of the Ma’apilim from the Atlit camp, the blowing up of the tracks, and the blowing up of the Allenby Bridge. Several times Yonah was injured in the operations, but on brief visits to his mother and sister, who were anxious about his fate, he did not mention anything about it. After more than four years of service, he was released and began to work in his profession. Yonah took up active duty and served for two weeks as commander of a Palmach squad in the lower city of Haifa. In the summer of 1947, he volunteered to help with the care of Yemenite children in a summer camp where he discovered his educational talent by teaching the children order and discipline and labeling them as an old and normal educator. During the joy of the United Nations General Assembly resolution on partition, he immediately understood that the responsibility he was given in Israel’s history imposes on him and the next day he took up active duty, and served for two weeks as commander of a Palmach squad in the lower city of Haifa, . On December 25, 1947, Yonah went with his squad and another squad to take a tour of the water pipe near Imara. They were ambushed by an Arab force, and Yonah was seriously injured in the stomach. From his bed, he gave instructions to his friends how to keep the navy safe and explained to them the importance of the Negev and the pipeline to the future of the state. The next day, on the 14th of Teves, December 26, 1947, he died of his wounds and was brought to eternal rest in the Haifa cemetery.