Jacoby, John

Son of Elisheva and Shlomo, was born on March 4, 1929 in the town of Zol, in the state of Turingen, Germany. In his early years, he grew up calmly in the home of his father, the wealthy lawyer, and in his first year of elementary school the Nazi wave of hostility had not yet increased, but his parents had foresight and at the beginning of 1936 immigrated with their children to Israel. They specialized in agriculture in Nahalal for a year, and already there the child was more interested in adult talks and in their actions than in the children’s games. Afterwards, the family settled in Moshav Tel Adashim, where Yochanan studied until the ninth grade in the local school. He often toured nearby and far by bicycle, patiently treating animals, and especially wild cats. Yochanan began his work without painting, worked in music (played the flute), sculpted wood and repaired various instruments in the farmyard and found time to read good books. After completing his studies at the school, he worked in his parents’ farm and later began farming at the Kadouri School. Here his teachers recognized him as a character and discipline in his work, his studies, and his social life. When the War of Independence broke out, he asked for and received his parents’ consent to enlist, although he did not like the war, but out of human decency he could not leave the fighting and sacrifice for others. From school he felt with his department to help Kibbutz Beit Keshet, which was attacked, and covered the retreat with the last one arriving at the gate. Yochanan served in one of the Palmach regiments, and after completing a departmental paramedics course, served in his position as a company medic in the Yiftah Brigade in the Upper Galilee and coldly and bravely provided first aid to friends who were hurt even within the barrage of fire. The soldiers were retreating by order, but he, confined to his service and his human and social duty, remained to take care of the wounded and, wearing a badly wounded friend, was hit by a bullet and the enemy’s armored vehicle crushed them both on 15.5.1948 ). He was laid to rest in the cemetery in Maoz Haim.