Klein, Michael

Son of Klara and Eliahu, was born on May 27, 1931 in the city of Munkács, Czechoslovakia, in a Zionist house that was Hebrew. During the Second World War, he was tortured in a concentration camp in Germany. After the war he arrived in Budapest, where he discovered his mother and sister who had survived, and there he learned that his father had died. In August 1946, upon the start of immigration from Hungary, he immigrated to Israel on the illegal immigrant ship “Ha-Hayal Ha’ivri”. When he was released from detention in Atlit, he was sent to the agricultural educational institution in Magdiel, within the framework of Youth Aliyah. A young man was lively and hard-pressed to adapt to the work life of the educational institution, but he adapted more easily to his studies. He was very honest and knew no hypocrisy. He criticized his friends, teachers and mentors when he thought he had done wrong to someone. Michael took part in the choir and the drama club and found it satisfying. He could find joy in life, too, in small matters, on patrol, song, and dance, and he could bestow his joy on others. He became fond of his friends, was elected to the committee and was active in his position. With the outbreak of the War of Independence, he took part in the activities of the Gadna in the Magdiel area, excelling in them and serving as an example of his comrades in his quick grasp and readiness for every position. In the “Palmach” battalion of the Palmach and fought on the Jerusalem front. Towards the end of April 1948, a “Yevusi” operation was carried out in the Jerusalem area, intended to create a territorial contiguity within the city and between Jerusalem and the settlements in the north. For the purpose of the operation, the Harel Brigade was transferred to Jerusalem and on April 22-23, 1948, its forces attacked Shuafat, Beit Iksa, and Nabi Samuel. The force movement to Nebi Samuel took a long time and the assault began at dawn. In the face of the enemy fire, the force was forced to withdraw and in the difficult retreat in broad daylight there were many casualties. This battle fell on the 14th of Nissan 5708 (April 23, 1948). Michael was a machine gunner and prepared to cover up the retreat of his comrades, but was immediately hit by a bullet in the head and fell. He was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Kiryat Anavim.