Ilbing, Nachman (Yan)

Nachman, son of Leah and Yechezkel, IIlbing, was born on (23 Shvat) February 1, 2121 in Graz, Austria. His nickname was “Dr. Yodah-Hakol” as his mother called him “the gift of God.” In the spring of 1935 he immigrated to Israel with his mother and sister. His father, immigrated the previous year. Because of material difficulties, Nachman was forced to stop school and joined the police. His minuscule salary was donated to the family. At the same time, he joined the Haganah, where his emotional connection to the aspirations of the Jewish people in his homeland increased. In this dual occupation, he found time to continue his studies in philosophy and later in psychology. Nachman excelled in tolerance and kindness towards others. He loved life and knew how to enjoy the simple and important things, and to realize every moment of it. In 1943 he resigned from the police and went to Jerusalem to study psychology from Prof. Ettingon. In the meantime, he worked as a clerk in the service of the government, and was a welcome guest in the homes of intellectuals and scientists. In 1946 he married Chava Danon, who understood his spirit and his aspirations and helped him in everything. When the war broke out in the winter of 1948, he suffered two minor wounds while standing with his father near a building they had built in Wadi Nisnas. As a member of the Haganah, he continued to serve in an active military service, took part in the battles for the liberation of Haifa and afterward was a commander of the area for some time. Immediately after the liberation of the city, before he could rest, he took care of transporting the wounded Arabs to hospitals and providing assistance to women and children. He was sent with his battalion to the Jordan Guard. He took part in the operation “Brosh” to destroy the Syrian bridgehead in the Mishmar Hayarden area, where he fell in combat on the 3rd of Tammuz, July 10, 1948. He was brought to eternal rest in the military cemetery in Rosh Pina.