Holland, Ze’ev

Ze’ev, son of Rivka and Moshe Holland, was born on February 28, 1928, in the town of Wyszkow, Poland. Zev grew up in a home that lacked nothing. Ze’ev had golden hands, he knew how to create or repair everything that was needed at home. The family lived a religious lifestyle, and in their courtyard there was a synagogue that served the residents. In 1939, with the German invasion of Poland, Ze’ev’s parents and their children were wandering through the Soviet Union on a long and arduous journey. In 1943, at the age of fifteen, Ze’ev had the opportunity to be part of the aliyah of children known as the “Tehran Children.” After he falsely declared himself an orphan, he succeeded in joining the group.
In the “Tehran Children” group, Ze’ev is remembered as quiet but an attentive and sensitive listener. His friends were very fond of him, and he always ran to help the weak. During this period he met Leah, one of the girls, who would later marry him. In January 1943, the Jewish Agency organized their immigration to Eretz Israel. When the train arrived on the streets on February 18, 1943, the children were greeted at a warm and enthusiastic reception. Ze’ev was sent to the “Mikve Israel” agricultural school, and after a short period moved to live with his wife Leah in the Shabazi neighborhood of Tel Aviv, where their daughter Ita was born in 1945. In 1947, Ze’ev was active in the underground. When the War of Independence broke out Ze’ev was drafted into the air service, which preceded the air force, and served as a mechanic. On Sunday, 3 Adar 5748 (14.3.1948), a work accident occurred while a propeller was being driven at the Dov airport and Ze’ev was killed. He was survived by his daughter, Ita, who was two and a half years old.