Hoch, Moshe-Aryeh

Son of Miriam and Alexander, was born on the 23rd of Elul, August 23, 1923 in Poland. In 1934 he immigrated to Israel with his parents who settled in Haifa. When he was 17, he joined “Irgun Bet” (which later became the Irgun Zvai Leumi). He then moved to the “Fighters for the Freedom of Israel” organization and was one of its members until his death. In 1943 he was arrested by the British and imprisoned in Acre prison, then transferred to the Latrun detention camp, and finally exiled to eastern Africa. First to Eritrea and then to Sudan and Kenya. With the establishment of the State of Israel he returned to Israel, and immediately, joined the Israel Defense Forces. He was stationed in the Golani brigade, during Operation Horev, for the expulsion of the Egyptian army from Israel. On the night of December 22-23, 1948, the brigade’s forces took control of the 86th position north of Khan Yunis, threatening the road and the railway, and creating the impression that the intention was to cut off the Egyptian forces in the Gaza Strip. Under enemy artillery, Golani fighters were forced to retreat, and on that day,21st of Kislav, December 23, 1948, Moshe-Aryeh fell and was buried on the borders of the Naqab. – On the 16th of Av, November 8, 1949 he was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Haifa.