Kofstein, Mordechai

Son of Miriam and Chaim. He was born on November 19, 1924 in Bukovina, Romania, and spent the Nazi period in a concentration camp in Transnistria, where his father, the Hebrew teacher in Kimplong, Bukovina, inherited his great love for Israel and Palestine, Even before he completed his studies at the Romanian Gymnasium, he was deported with his parents and all the Jews of Qimplong to a concentration camp in Transnistria, where he was sent to a concentration camp in Transnistria, After three years of suffering and hunger, he graduated with honors at the Hebrew University entrance examinations A horrifying account of the history of the Jews of Bukovina in the years 1941-1944, about the wanderings of thousands of Jewish families who had been subjected to the uncleanness of the Hitlerite soldiers and their Romanian dragons, and who, after entering the university, devoted himself to study and was loved by his teachers and friends. True, modest, quiet and timid, many predicted a brilliant future for a researcher and a scientist, who lived in a modest and simple life, refused to receive financial help from his family, and made only his living. He spent the days devoted to the Torah, and the nights to work: lessons for students, translations from foreign languages, and washing dishes in the kitchen of the student residence, provided that they did not receive help and support from relatives. With the beginning of the War of Independence, in December 1947, he left his university studies and joined the Haganah members in Gush Etzion – where he fought until his dying day. On his life in Gush Etzion during his four months of service in the army, a friend wrote: “Throughout his stay in Kfar Etzion, Mordecai himself felt good and read to his friends interesting lectures in physics. Until his arrival in Israel, and his friends were ashamed to complain to him about the hardships of their lives, during the battle he was cheerful and alert, he knew no fear, and his death did not feel the agony of death. Mordechai fell on the way from Jerusalem to Gush Etzion on the 17th of Adar 2, 5708 (28.3.1948) in the battle of Nabi Daniel. He was buried in Sanhedria in Jerusalem. Mordechai left behind many writings in Hebrew and French, but most of them were lost when the Gush fell. Remained only his diary from 1944-1945 written in Romanian. On the 13th of Elul 5711 (13.9.1951) he was put to rest at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.