Hershkowitz, Mordechai

Son of-Esther and Aharon was born on 17.9.1923 in the city of Orde-Mara, Romania, where he studied at an elementary school and at a young age joined the Zionist movement, when he was the secretary of Hanoar Hazioni in Romania Mordechai was a locksmith according to his profession, During the Second World War, he moved to Budapest, worked as a professional in a detention camp, helped others in his “privileged” position as an expert, and was often punished for this. He volunteered for the Palmach and was trained in the military training program at the Ein Hanatziv group, where he was sent to a special course for the Armored Corps. Who participated in the battles of Lod, Ramle and Sarafand (Zerifin), during his last vacation he told his relative, who lived with him in Holon, that although he was often in danger and passed through what had happened and was always safe, his Lev “told him this time.” The Yiftah Brigade was taken to the central region and took part in the fighting in the Latrun area, and with the resumption of fighting after the first truce, the brigade participated in the fighting, During Operation “Dani” and on the night of 17-18 July 1948, towards the beginning of the second truce, the “Haemek” battalion seized Shilat and an outpost in the eastern part of the Korikor ridge It is enough to threaten the wing of the legion in Latrun. In the morning it became clear that the Legion force was holding the western part of the ridge. The enemy attacked the force in the outpost from two directions with the aid of armored vehicles, and that was forced to withdraw. In the harsh retreat in an open area under crossfire, many of the fighters fell. In this battle Mordechai fell on the 18th of Tammuz 5708 (18.7.1948). On the 11th of Adar 5702 (28.2.1950) he was laid to rest at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.