Halimi, Mordechai

Son of Guadaz-Louisa and Eliahu, was born on the 11th of Tevet 5626 (11.1.1926) in the city of Constantine, Algeria. Received a religious education. Worked as a garage mechanic, and later on the Algerian train. He was a good athlete. He loved the garden and the chicken and during his free time he did toys and was very successful in this work. As a man of national recognition, he volunteered to fight the Nazis. He joined the Free French Army on January 24, 1944 and served in the 15th Regiment of the Senegalese Rifles. On January 9, 1946, he was released from the French army and helped the emissary from Palestine who came to Algeria, explaining to the Jewish youth and enlisting them for battle in Israel. As the battle intensified in Israel, he left on July 7, 1948 to join the War of Independence. In his letters from Israel to his brother-in-law in India-China, he spoke with enthusiasm about the Israel war, about how few stood up against many, and expressed his belief in victory. Even under the pressure of the battles he remained faithful to his religious education, and never missed the three prayers a day. He served in the “French Commando” company in the Negev Brigade, was a courageous soldier who knew no fear, and was loved by his friends. During Operation Horev to remove the Egyptian army from the country, the French Commando was forced to conquer the Tamila outposts on the Beersheba-Nitzana road. The company succeeded in conquering one of the outposts and preparing it, but the Egyptians launched a counterattack under cover from the outposts that had not yet been conquered. After a number of attacks were repulsed, the force was forced to retreat in light of the Egyptian priority, and only after the arrival of reinforcements were the Egyptian outposts occupied. Mordechai fell on the 24th of Kislev 5709 (26.12.1948) and was put to rest at the Revivim military cemetery.