Goldman, Ze’ev

Zeev, son of Rivka and Chaim, was born on October 10, 1951, in Petach Tikva. He completed his elementary studies at the public school in Kadima and later moved to the ORT school, where he studied for one year in the field of mechanics. A year later, he moved to the youth village of Kfar Yatkin and studied electronics. At that time his family’s financial situation was bad, because of his mother’s poor health. When his parents were unable to continue to finance their studies, he was forced to leave the school and come to his father’s aid in agriculture. His father and he leased plots of land, worked them, and sold the fruits of their labor. He was a sociable boy and was very much in love with his contemporaries in his village. Ze’ev was drafted into the IDF in mid-February 1969 and was assigned to the Armored Corps. He completed a vocational course at the Armored Corps School and was trained as a tank gunner. After that, he took part in a course for guide instructors and served as a guide in the liaison section of the Armored Corps base. He was a soldier and an excellent guide, and his commanders trusted him in everything. They knew that he was responsible and devoted to his work, and excelled in his seriousness and willingness to do everything he was entrusted with meticulously, efficiently and thoroughly. He was fond of his friends in the liaison section, mentors and apprentices alike, and he was admired and accepted by everyone because of his good character, his honesty and his willingness to always help others as needed. In February 1972, Ze’ev was discharged from regular service and assigned to reserve duty in an armored unit. He married a wife and in 1973 his eldest son was born. When the Yom Kippur War broke out he was drafted and sent to his unit in the north of the country. The armored brigade that belonged to it went up to the Golan Heights in order to participate in stopping the Syrian attack. On the 11th of Tishrei 5734 (7.10.1973), in the early afternoon, Ze’ev participated in a fierce battle that took place near the quarry on the Naf-Kuntra road. The exchange of fire between the fighting forces took place at short ranges. In this battle his tank was hit directly and he was killed. He was brought to eternal rest in the military section of the Kiryat Shaul cemetery. He left behind a wife and son, a father, a brother and two sisters. After his fall, he was promoted to First Sergeant. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “Ze’ev fell in battle while carrying out his duties in the Blacksmith region of the Golan Heights, where he served in an armored unit and performed all his duties with great devotion and responsibility.”