Klapholtz, Shlomo

Son of Rachel and Moshe, was born on the 5th of Elul 5718 (2.9.1918) in the city of Biala-Bielsko, Poland, to a Hasidic family. When he was two years old his father died. He studied in a “cheder”, a yeshiva and a high school. When he completed his studies, he learned the furs profession and helped support the family. Shlomo was one of the first organizers of the Hashomer Hadati movement in his city, a loyal member for ten years.
In 1941 Shlomo immigrated to Israel via Lithuania, Russia and Turkey, and joined the “Avraham Group” in Kfar Pines. Together with his group he went to settle in Kfar Etzion, was active in committees and he served as a police officer in the Jewish settlement police for three years. He was a modest man, a lover of simplicity, had a quick grasp and aspired to improve the life of the group. A thread of nobility was pulled over him.
Shlomo was in the Kfar Etzion convoy that was attacked on the Bethlehem road. When he was sitting in the driver’s cabin, he was hit by an enemy bullet and fell on the 28th of Kislev 5708 (December 11, 1947). His older brother Yaakov was one of the defenders of Gush Etzion and fell on May 13, 1948. Shlomo left a wife and son. On the 25th of Cheshvan 5710 (17.11.1949), along with his brother and the other victims of the Gush,
he was laid to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.