Laniado, Yitzhak

Yitzhak, son of Lily and Moshe, was born on January 13, 1951, in Bnei Brak. He completed his elementary studies at the Komemiyut School in Bnei Brak, and then studied for one year at the naval officers’ school in Acre. He completed his high school studies at the ORT school in Bnei Brak. Itzik, as his family and acquaintances called him, was an outstanding student from his childhood. He graduated from elementary school with honors, and in high school he was considered a talented student, and always was a class favorite. He was a member of the Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed youth movement and managed a broad social life there. He was very fond of traveling, took part in all the trips and even made many trips on his own initiative. In addition, he engaged in sports in his various branches, and because he loved swimming, he was also an avid rescuer. Much of his leisure time was devoted to folk dancing. He knew many dances, loved to spend long hours dancing and appeared as an amateur dancer. Yitzhak was drafted into the IDF in mid-May 1969 and volunteered for Sayeret Shaked, where he underwent a very difficult basic training program and a course for the drivers of the half-track, during which he worked in two main areas: an IAF spy and a tour operator. After basic training he was stationed in a unit in the Dead Sea area, where he participated in the pursuit of terrorists and ambushes for terrorists. After a while he participated in pursuit of terrorists in the Gaza area, and in one of his actions he received a personal medal from his commander in recognition of his excellence in the operation. He never talked about it at home, recognizing the importance of secrecy. Itzik was admired by all his comrades in the unit, and was highly regarded by his commanders. He was offered an officer’s course and continued his career in the army, but he refused, because he longed to return to civilian life and begin to build his future. At the end of his regular service, Itzik began planning his future. He went down to Nuweiba and spent about a month and a half with his girlfriend, with whom he was about to get married. Life in the developing Nuweiba appealed to him, and he decided to take part in the construction and development of this area. He decided to build his house there with his future wife, and applied to be accepted as a resident. During this period he was also called active reserve duty. But before he could fulfill his ambitions for a home, a family and a new life, the Yom Kippur War broke out. During the Yom Kippur War, Yitzhak took part in the battle against the Egyptians on the Sinai front. On October 21, 1973, Yitzhak was shot and killed by an enemy aircraft while evacuating casualties west of the Suez Canal in an area west of Fayyad. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl. Survived by his parents, sisters and brother. After his fall, he was promoted to First Sergeant. His parents donated a Torah scroll and Torah scroll to his local synagogue; His comrades in the unit published a pamphlet in memory of all the fallen of their unit, and Itzik among them.