Kotzer, Chaim
Son of Yehuda and Bilha. He was born on June 13, 1933 in Nes Ziona, and was named after the Zionist leader Chaim Arlosoroff, who was murdered three days after his birth. After the events of 1936-1939 he moved to Kibbutz Sde-Nahum and began studying at the Ein Harod school and then at the Sde-Nahum school. During this period he worked for a while in the kibbutz’s goat pen. He called to work and before he reached Bar Mitzvah age, he wrote an article about “The Goats in Deir Sde-Nahum”, which was published in the She’un She’arim. When the split in the kibbutz movement began, Chaim moved with his family to Kibbutz Gvat. Before joining the IDF, he spent two years studying at the vocational school in Ein Harod, where he completed his studies as a mechanic, and was a sports enthusiast, especially in soccer. After being discharged from regular army service, he was accepted to the “Tavor” cooperative and for 18 years devoted his best time to the development and prosperity of the cooperative. At first he worked as a regular driver and later as a member of the management and as a workman. Over the years, Haim built his home in the Ifat group. Thanks to his great success in the management of the cooperative, he was sent by his group to a central position in the cooling plants in Petach Tikvah and served in this position for two years. Since he was discharged from regular service, he was called for periods of reserve duty and was accepted, as usual, with a sense of responsibility and duty. During the days of alert before the Six-Day War, he contracted a disease that exhausted his forces. The doctor released him from the reserve duty, but as soon as the fighting broke out, Chaim settled in the unit and performed his difficult task with dedication and responsibility as always. On the 16th of Shevat 5732 (February 1, 1972), he fell while carrying out his duties and left a wife and four children. He was laid to rest in the cemetery in Yifat. In a letter of consolation he sent to the family, his commander wrote: “He was an excellent professional and a loyal friend, and every task that required expertise and precision, responsibility and excellent performance was given to him as a matter of course. Regular and reservists, were Simcha to serve with him. ” After his fall, Yifat published a booklet in his memory bearing his name.
