Zachariah, son of Jonah and Shlomo, was born on April 5, 1953 in Petah Tikva. And attended the “Netzach Yisrael” elementary school in Petah Tikva and the “Barak” high school in Tel Aviv. He was a member of a local youth organization called “Rinat” and was an enthusiastic athlete. He was particularly interested in fencing, long-distance running, and soccer. Zechariah was an outstanding student, loved to read a lot, especially in the Book of Psalms, and during his free time, he reached out for a painting. During his vacations, he sometimes went to work in drilling to earn some money, which he gave to his mother. “Zechariah was a warmhearted, quiet, humble and devoted person to every mission, and he had wonderful skills, from studies to sports of all kinds,” said his friend Amnon, “he was very lighthearted, participated in competitions and often won medals and achievements.” Zacharia was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of November 1971 and was assigned to the Armored Corps, where he completed a course for the Armored Corps commanders. “In the early days, Zechariah was very clear about his rapid adaptations to the harsh conditions in basic training,” he said, “with a rare stubbornness, mixed with strong motivation, and this stubbornness made it possible for him to smile at sleepless nights during running and traveling.” “I’ve always seen him with a slightly shy smile on his face, as said in the army: – nothing “broke” him, no hard work, no hard workouts. He was always a positive figure among the guys in the company, and he always talked about his experiences in the neighborhood, and especially his high-caliber agility, because of his love for his father he imitated him in everything, He inherited his physical ability from his father. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Zechariah was in the regular army, who sat on the canal line. On the 7th of Tishrei 5740 (7.10.1973), a reconnaissance company set out to clear the hills that control the water line from enemy soldiers. Zechariah, who served as a machine gunner, was wounded in this battle and killed. He was brought to eternal rest in the cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. Survived by father, mother, brother, and sister. After his fall, he was promoted to First Sergeant. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “Zachariah and his friends, with their young bodies, blocked the onslaught of the Egyptian invading force. In his memory, the family donated a Torah scroll, which was placed in the synagogue in Petah Tikva. In addition, a booklet was published about Zechariah and Eitan – the two friends who in their lives and in their deaths did not part.
