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Klein, Binyamin (Fritz, Benny)

Klein, Binyamin (Fritz, Benny)

Binyamin (Benny), son of Frieda and Philip Klein, was born in 1921 in Vienna, Austria. He often went swimming in the Danube River and wandered through the mountains and forests, gaining physical and mental strength and agility. In 1940 he sailed on a ship along the Danube and then through the Black Sea. Six weeks later, on November 25, 1940, he arrived in Haifa, where he was brought with the rest of the immigrants to the “Patria” ship to be sent to Mauritius. When the ship was blown up by the Haganah in order to prevent the deportation of the immigrants, he jumped from a great height, was saved by swimming and imprisoned in the Atlit camp. The prolonged detention also did not break his spirit and he used the time to learn the Hebrew language and the conditions of the country. When he was released he joined the settlement in Kfar Giladi working in all sectors of the agriculture willingly and quickly. Benny would also roam the Arab villages and learn their language and customs. Despite the beginning of the official truce, the Syrians attacked Abasiya on 5 Sivan, June 12, 1948. Benny was wounded in the leg and refused to leave the battle. He was buried in the cemetery in Kfar Giladi.

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